Fox News: Cesspool of sexual harassment that goes beyond Roger Ailes

Roger Ailes was ousted from the top position at Fox News Channel Thursday in the wake of allegations of sexual-harassment made against him, but controversy continues to swell around the 21st Century Fox-owned cable-news outlet.

New York magazine and The New York Times on Saturday posted reports about the departure of former Fox News correspondent Rudi Bahktiar, who told both outlets she was forced out last decade by senior executives after complaining about harassment by a colleague, Brian Wilson, who was slated to become the network’s next Washington Bureau Chief. Bakhtiar told New York she won $670,000 plus legal fees through mediation, and felt compelled to break a non-disclosure agreement now by the recent imbroglio swirling at Fox News. Gretchen Carlson, a Fox News anchor who was on the air until June, earlier this month filed a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by Ailes, which in turn spurred an internal review by the network’s parent company that resulted in Ailes’ departure.

The Times also said its reporters had interviewed around a dozen women who “said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment or intimidation at Fox News or the Fox Business Network, and half a dozen more who said they had witnessed it.” Wilson told the New York Times that he took “strong exception” to Bakhtiar’s account. Ailes has denied the allegations made against him.

The new reports suggest, however, that the culture of Fox News remains under a microscope, and that some of its senior executives are likely to be drawn into the fray. Both Bill Shine, the network’s senior vice president of programming, and John Moody, the network’s executive vice president and executive editor of FoxNews.com, are cited in the reports as having been involved in the decision to remove Bakhtiar. Both executives have been cited in press reports as potential successors to Ailes.

Ben Reilly wrote:It's issues like this that get me so pissed off when people say there's no difference between t he Republicans and Democrats.

Republicans treat women like sex dolls.

Democrats nominate women for President of the United States.