Is Anyone Adhering to the Policy at Fox News? (Updated)
Fox News says it has a network policy against employees to help raise funds for candidates and/or political organizations.
But, it seems that many at Fox News are ignoring the mandate.
The Washington Post says that many Fox News staffers have been seen at political fundraisers.
The post writes that Jeanine Pirro and other Fox hosts and paid contributors have attended Republican fundraisers and stumped for GOP candidates in recent weeks.
The practice, apparently routine at Fox News, is unusual elsewhere; most news organizations prohibit their employees from such participation on the grounds that it compromises the independence of the organization.
Pirro, the host of the weekly Fox News program “Justice With Judge Jeanine,” appeared at an event hosted by the Volusia County Republican Party in Daytona Beach, Fla., last month. The keynote speaker at the gathering was Dan Bongino, a regular Fox contributor and sometime fill-in host for Hannity. Another Fox contributor, Tomi Lahren, keynoted the event in 2018.
The next week, Pirro appeared at a fundraiser staged by the Seminole County Republican Party outside Orlando.
Mark Levin, who hosts a Sunday evening program on Fox News, was the featured speaker at a rally in behalf of Republican state Senate candidate Geary Higgins of Virginia last month. He was also the headline attraction at a fundraiser for Higgins in May.
Others at Fox News who have appeared this year before Republican or conservative groups include news anchor Shannon Bream, legal analyst Gregg Jarrett and commentator Rachel Campos-Duffy.
In other words, not many at Fox News seem to be following the rules.
You have wonder how much different this would be if Roger Ailes was still running the network?
Updated: A Fox News spokeswoman said the network has addressed the issue with its contributors and hosts, as well as third-party agents who book events.