Fox News, its co-president Bill Shine and its former chairman Roger Ailes were hit with another sexual harassment lawsuit on Monday, the latest accusations to rock a network already reeling from revelations this past weekend about its biggest star, Bill O’Reilly.
On-air contributor Julie Roginsky filed a complaint Monday in New York state court claiming that Ailes made repeated sexual advances toward her. After she turned them down, Roginsky alleges that Fox News and Shine, specifically, retaliated against her by denying her opportunities at the top-rated cable news network.
Shine, a longtime Fox News executive, became co-president after the resignation of Ailes, who left amid widespread harassment allegations in July. The lawsuit alleges that Roginsky faced repercussions for not joining “Team Roger” by initially defending the network boss following the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former host Gretchen Carlson.
A Fox News spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ailes’ interest in Roginsky, who’d been appearing on Fox News since 2004, allegedly began in earnest in 2015, after she landed a co-hosting role on the afternoon show “The Five.” According to the suit, Ailes would call her in for one-on-one meetings, where conversation would lead to Roginsky’s personal life. Ailes allegedly would ask who she was dating and why she wasn’t married.
This was just the beginning of the inappropriate behavior Roginsky describes in the suit: “During these meetings, Ailes additionally (and without irony) volunteered the advice that Roginsky should engage in sexual relationships with ‘older, married, conservative men’ because ‘they may stray but they always come back because they’re loyal.’”
Ailes also told Roginsky, in what seemed like a clear warning, that he was loyal but that loyalty was a two-way street, according to the suit.
At the meetings Ailes would insist on a kiss hello, but he would be seated in a low armchair. That meant that Roginsky had to bend down to reach his cheek, according to the suit.
All along, Roginksy, who the lawsuit describes as a liberal, thought she was in the running for a permanent position on “The Five.” But in April 2015, Ailes called Roginsky in for what would be their final one-on-one. He “toyed” with Roginsky, the suit alleges, about giving her a permanent spot. Then he allegedly said that “if it wouldn’t get us both in so much trouble,” he would take her out for a drink. Instead, Ailes suggested a drink in his office.
After Roginsky declined, Ailes dismissed her and refused to meet with her again, despite repeated requests, according to the suit. Ailes gave Roginsky’s spot to Geraldo Rivera.
Roginsky is being represented by attorney Nancy Erika Smith, who also represented Carlson. The full suit is below.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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