The 20-year reign of Roger Ailes as the head of Fox News Channel may be over, according to a report by New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman.
Sherman, the author of a critical biography on Ailes, claims to have two sources inside of Fox News stating an internal investigation of sexual harassment charges against Ailes has been concluded.
{mosads}The story does not mention the results of the investigation by the law firm Paul Weiss. But it says Ailes may be presented with a choice to resign or be fired.
Another source, according to Sherman’s story, says Rupert Murdoch, along with sons James and Lachlan, who serve as co-chairmen and CEO, respectively, are all “in agreement that Ailes needs to go.”
The investigation stems from a sexual harassment suit brought against the 76-year-old Ailes by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson on July 6. Ailes denies the allegations, stating Ms. Carlson’s contract wasn’t renewed because she had the lowest-rated live program on the network.
While the new report has sent shockwaves throughout the media industry, stories from Sherman on Ailes have proven to be shaky to outright false in the past.
Sherman, for example, also reported through multiple sources on June 17 of last year that a power shift at Fox News was underway and Ailes — despite leading the network to being easily the most-watched cable news network for 15 years running — was being demoted. The sources were anonymous.
Eight days later, it was announced that Ailes was not demoted but instead awarded a new contract with expanded responsibilities.
The Hill has reached out to Fox News for comment.