";s:4:"text";s:26822:"Fox has battled allegations of sexual misconduct in the past, including against network chief Ailes, who died in 2017. Eckhart says in the lawsuit that Henry raped her and "left her injured, bruised and battered with bloody wrists"in a New York hotel room "sometime in 2017" and thatFox executives were informed "in graphic and specific detail" about her claim. Fox News is facing more allegations of sexual misconduct as two women filed a lawsuit Monday in which former anchor Ed Henry is accused of rape and network executives are accused of knowing of his alleged behavior and ignoring it long before he was fired this month. She said that he had asked Eckhart to be his sex slave and little whore and punished her when she did not comply with his demands. "Mr. Kurtz was punishing Ms. Areu for refusing to join him at hishotel. The lawsuit said that Fox knew that Henry who took a four-month leave of absence in 2016 following published reports of his affair with a Las Vegas cocktail We take all claims of harassment, misconduct and retaliation seriously, promptly investigating them and taking immediate action as needed in this case, the appropriate action based on our investigation is to defend vigorously against these baseless allegations. The morning after Ms. Areu rejected Mr. Kurtzs advances, it continued, he refused to meet with her at the studio and curtly said to her, Im booked solid this morning which is why I hoped to connect last night. Mr. Kurtz was punishing Ms. Areu for refusing to join him at his hotel. The explosive allegations are contained in court papers filed Wednesday by Henrys attorney Brian M. Block of Mandelbaum Salzberg in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, where Scott lives. The network denied knowing of sexual misconduct by Henry before this year. The lawsuit also alleges that nearly 13,000 vaccinated people in the U.S. have died and over 30,000 people have had life-threatening reactions to the vaccine. Ms. Areu has only appeared approximately three times on 'Media Buzz' following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances," the lawsuit says. "The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship. More: Fox News fined $1 million in New York City settlement of sexual harassment allegations Henry's lawsuit against Fox News came a day after the New York City Commission on Human Rights fined Fox News $1 million in a settlement stemming from a sexual harassment investigation, the highest civil penalty in the commission's history. In December 2018, after appearing on his show, the complaint alleges that Carlson told Areu "that he would be alone in New York City that night, and specifically said that he would be staying alone in his hotel room without any wife or kids. Ed Henry looks forward to presenting actual facts and evidence, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the complaint. The lawsuit asserts that "Fox News continues to protect and reward perpetrators of sexual harassment and refuses to take accountability for putting such persons in positions of power from which they can subject women to sexual misconduct, sexual assault and, in the case of Ms. Eckhart, rape.". The lawsuit names as defendants Paramount Pictures, director and co-producer Mike Nichols, screenplay author Jeffrey Abrams and others. "Beyond that, we cannot comment on pending litigation.". Former Fox News anchor Ed Henry (from left) and high-profile hosts Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity are all named in a lawsuit alleging different instances of sexual misconduct. When u r owned, you dont get a choice, he wrote on another occasion. (AP) _ A couple filed a $100 million lawsuit claiming the movie "Ms. Eckhart did not consent to any part of this violent, painful rape," the lawsuit says. Fox News fires Ed Henry after sexual misconduct investigation. During Areus March 8, 2018 appearance on Hannitys show, the lawsuit alleged, the prime-time star threw $100 on the set desk. Henry said some of the conversationrelied on the "false report" from Folkenflik and that Stelter "recklessly republished Mr. Folkenfliks allegation without confirming its authenticity. Fox said there were no sexual harassment claims against Henry until they learned about Eckharts allegations last month. Fox News, which in recent years has been hit by numerous accusations of sexual misconduct that forced out founder Roger Ailes and top host Bill O'Reilly, announced on July 1 that it had fired Henry after investigating an accusation of sexual misconduct against him by a former employee. The MNA stated that although they don't represent the employees at Henry Ford Hospital, they support the vaccine and oppose hospitals enforcing "one-sided policies. Fox News Mediapraised Scott's performanceon corporate culture issues in a separate statement. Uponinformation and belief, he was not even disciplined," the lawsuit says. ", NPR responded to the claim Friday. More:Bill Cosby released from prison after sex assault conviction overturned by Pa. Supreme Court, More:James Franco agrees to pay $2.2M to settle sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by former students. ", Along with Riney's comments, the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) issued a statement to The Detroit News regarding the September 10 deadline. Why updating particulate matter standards is critical to protecting health, Minnesota inches toward LGBTQ conversion therapy ban, South Carolina labor leader pushes back on criticism of Biden primary shake-up, Santos accused of taking $3K from GoFundMe for veterans dying dog, Senate Democrat calls for investigation of mass money transfer surveillance, Musk says Biden may try to weaponize government against Twitter if Trump returns, Jon Stewart on Santos: We cannot mistake absurdity for lack of danger, White House calls New Mexico shootings targeting Democratic officials shocking and horrifying, CNN considers prime-time comic host as Gutfeld thrives on Fox, The Views Behar says Biden should admit to hypocrisy over classified docs, Kellyanne Conway in NYT op-ed: A fools errand to write off Trump in 2024. The defendants have a month to respond to the complaint. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Eckhart's suit, which seeks a monetary award, also alleges that Henry violated federal sex trafficking laws. The lawsuit on behalf of John and Joan Cox was filed this week in federal court in New York City. The lawsuit alleges Henry sexually harassed both women and raped Eckhart. The lawsuit also claims sexual advances by Carlson, Kurtz and Caldwell that Areu spurned, which the suit alleges led the hosts to cut down on her appearances on their shows. Minutes into the film, I was so upset, Mrs. Cox said. The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society, and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard, Foti said. This is not one of those cases., Eckharts lawyer, Michael Willemin, accused Foti of trying to slut-shame Eckhart and suggest that she was asking to be violently raped. The other plaintiff, Cathy Areu, who was a regular guest on several Fox News programs, accuses Henry of sending her a slew of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages, and accuses hosts Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Howard Kurtz and contributor Gianno Caldwell of sexual harassment. The morning after, Kurtz refused to meet with her at the studio and shortly after told her youre the only woman who wont come to my hotel room, according to the lawsuit. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. "NPR stands behind David Folkenfliks reporting and will vigorously defend it against this meritless claim," said Isabel Lara, NPRs executive director of communications, in a statement. A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges ex-Fox News host Ed Henry raped a woman he had groomed and coerced into having a sexual relationship when she did not comply voluntarily. Henrys attorney Catherine Foti denied the allegations against Henry. In addition, the Wigdor Firm declined to provide the investigators with any of the emails, texts or other evidence they requested.. Ed Henry looks forward to presenting actual facts and evidence, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the complaint. The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship. Henryfiled a separate lawsuit the same day against several websites and Twitter handles who shared similar allegations against the former correspondent. Michigan health care workers have recently filed a lawsuit with their employer, stating that the COVID-19 vaccine is an infringement upon their human rights. UPDATED with dismissal: Ex-Fox News host Ed Henry s defamation lawsuit against NPR and CNN has been voluntarily dismissed. The filing comes ahead of the September 10 vaccine mandate deadline, which requires all health care works to be vaccinated or risk losing their jobs. ", In a statement Foti said: "The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society, and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard. He made the comments as Areu was stuck and hooked into studio equipment, according to the lawsuit. I stand for all victims who have been mistreated, harassed, assaulted, and even worse, at the hands of those in power, and the institutions that continue to support them, said Jennifer Eckhart, a former associate producer at Fox Business Network who worked in different positions there over seven years, in a statement provided by her attorney. Ed Henry looks forward to presenting actual facts and evidence, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the complaint. Some of the names in leadership may have changed since Roger Ailes regime, but Fox News institutional apathy towards sexual misconduct has not., According to the complaint, Eckhart alleged that Henry, who is married, groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced her into a sexual relationship in which he referred to her as his sex slave. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed, when she would not comply voluntarily, [Henry] sexually assaulted her on office property, and raped her at a hotel where Fox News frequently lodged its visiting employees., The relationship began in 2014, according to the lawsuit, after Henry, who is two decades older than Eckhart, messaged her on Twitter telling her that he thought she was beautiful. From there, the lawsuit claimed, Ms. The lawsuit and new allegations come nearly four years after then-Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes was ousted from the network after an external investigation due to sexual harassment claims in July 2016. White House rips appointment of extreme MAGA members to House Oversight Comer focuses on Penn Biden Center in investigation of classified documents, Here are the 10 states with the least healthy populations. "The association's registered nurses strongly encourage everyone to choose to get vaccinated to protect their families and themselves.". The Wednesday lawsuit by Henrysays Scott'sstatement lent"credence tothe false allegations because she was trying to save her own career andburnish her image as a tough, no nonsense female executive who cleaned up Fox News. However, I simply could not stay silent given the tremendous harm that Mr. Henry and others at Fox News have caused for women affiliated with the company. My decision to speak out was not an easy one, but I refuse to let fear of retaliation, victim shaming and further attacks intimidate me into remaining silent. Her allegations werent made public when Henry was fired. "Fox News continues to protect and rewardperpetrators of sexual harassment and refuses to take accountability for putting such persons inpositions of power from which they can subject women to sexual misconduct, sexual assault and, in the case of Ms. Eckhart, rape. Henry Ford Chief Operating Officer Robert G. Riney spoke with The Detroit News in June regarding Henry Ford hospital's decision to mandate the vaccine. The suit also alleges harassment by some of Fox News best known anchors, including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Howard Kurtz, along with a contributor, Gianno Caldwell. Nevertheless, Fox News would have the public believe that it is a different place from the Fox News that was run by former disgraced Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. Caldwell then made clear that the price to meet Ms. Coulter would be a date with Mr. Caldwell. Hannity and Carlson represent two-thirds of Foxs lucrative prime-time lineup, while Kurtz hosts the weekend Media Buzz show. Ed Henry was terminated after Fox News received a complaint on June 25 from a former employee's attorney. One former Fox News staffer and one frequent on-air guest at the network filed suit in federal court Monday, alleging they had been harassed individually by Ed Henry, the Fox News anchor who was fired by the cable-news outlet earlier this month following a complaint about willful sexual misconduct in the workplace, and their disclosures threaten to revive an era that the Fox Corp.-owned media company had hoped to put behind it after the ouster of Roger Ailes. Inreality, however, Ms. Scott had long been an instrument to cover upthe existence of sexual misconduct at Fox News,"adding she "has repeatedly covered up sexual misconduct by seniorFox News management. Based on investigative findings, Ed has been terminated, the executives said. Areu, who was a regular guest on The Sean Hannity Show and Tucker Carlson Tonight until 2018, also accused host Sean Hannity of conducting a mock dating auction with her as the prize. I will fight with every fiber of my being, Henry tweeted on Monday evening. The lawsuit said that Fox knew that Henry who took a four-month leave of absence in 2016 following published reports of his affair with a Las Vegas cocktail waitress had engaged in sexual misconduct as far back as 2017. A female former producer at Fox News and another woman who appeared frequently as an on-air commentator on the network have filed a civil lawsuit Monday This is not one of those cases, Foti said in a statement. Areu also said she got several lewd messages from Henry. THE HILL 1625 K STREET, NW SUITE 900 WASHINGTON DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 TEL | 202-628-8503 FAX. I chose to file this complaint because no woman should have to suffer the conduct to which I was subjected, much less the egregious conduct suffered by Ms. Eckhart, said Cathy Areu, a frequent guest on Fox News programs and shows that run on Fox Nation, the companys streaming service. Editor's note: This report includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault accusations. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Henry was not terminated because he engaged in sexual misconductFox News was willing to support and promote him knowing that he had engaged in sexual misconduct, read the lawsuit. Henry was fired by Fox in July 2020, after Fox producer Jennifer Eckhart filed a civil lawsuit alleging Henry had raped her. Henry continued to send inappropriate, flirtatious and, at times, sexually graphic text messages to Ms. Eckhart after they first met in the networks New York offices. Henry's lawyer, Catherine Foti, has characterized the allegations against her client as "fictional. The statement also seeks to slut-shame Ms. Eckhart and suggests that she was asking to be violently raped. The network rejected Henry's argument in a statement to USA TODAY. Fox News White House correspondent Ed Henry prepares to do a stand-up in the Brady Briefing Room of [+] the White House in Washington, D.C. Jennifer Eckhart, a former Fox Business associate producer, alleges in the suit that Henry preyed upon, manipulated and groomed her and sexually assaulted her on company premises when she did not comply, further accusing him of raping her at a hotel the network used to lodge visiting employees. A former Fox News reporter and associate producer, along with a frequent guest on the network, have leveled brutal and disturbing sexual-assault allegations against former host Ed Henry as well as harassment allegations against current on-air talent like hosts Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Howard Kurtz. ", More:Fox News fined $1 million in New York City settlement of sexual harassment allegations, Cable news race: Fox holds onto top spot in ratings after post-election dip. Eckhart was the anonymous accuserwhose allegations against Henry led to his firing on July 1, according to the lawsuit. The company has said it has made broad cultural changes since Ailes' ouster in 2016, but Wigdor and some former Fox News staffers say it has been slow to root out deeply embedded patterns of sexist behavior and actions. He then began calling out to the men in the room and demanding that someone take Ms. Areu out on a date for drinks," according to the complaint. One of the plaintiffs, Jennifer Eckhart, alleged she was assaulted by Henry, while the other, Cathy Areu, claimed in the filing that Henry sent her sexually graphic photos and messages. That evidence includes graphic photos and other aggressively suggestive communications that Ms. Eckhart sent to Mr. Henry.. The Me Too movement has helped to bring to light a number of injustices in our society, and everyone that has suffered deserves to be heard. Foxconducted a full and independent investigation of the claims against Jay Wallace he was cleared of any wrongdoing and the allegations are false.. I chose to file this complaint because no woman should have to suffer the conduct to which I was subjected, much less the egregious conduct suffered by Ms. Eckhart., In a statement, Fox News said: Based on the findings of a comprehensive independent investigation conducted by an outside law firm, including interviews with numerous eyewitnesses, we have determined that all of Cathy Areus claims against FOX News, including its management as well as its hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity & Howard Kurtz and its contributor Gianno Caldwell, are false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit. The lawsuit further alleged that Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell repeatedly pressed Areu to date him, using the possibility of an introduction to his friend Ann Coulter as a lure. Nothing could be further from the truth.. Later that day, he ordered her to perform oral sex on him in a guest office at Fox News headquarters in New York. ", Henry's lawyer Ty Clevenger said in a statement to USA TODAY that his client is a "journalist's journalist" and "reluctantly" filed the lawsuit against NPR and CNN, but saidthe networks "will be held accountable for what they've done.". Because that condition is unreasonable, as evidence cannot be suppressed or hidden in this manner in litigation, our investigators were not given access to speak to either plaintiff. More than 50 Henry Ford Health System employees have sued in federal court, hoping to stop a Sept. 10 coronavirus vaccine mandate. He also allegedly took pictures of her on his cellphone. We call on Fox News to work with our clients to retain a truly independent investigator who is transparent. In 2017, one of the networks most high-profile anchors, Bill OReilly, was fired after it was revealed that he, along with Fox, had reached numerous settlements with women accusing him of misconduct. Regarding Henry was released in 1991 but the couple didnt see it until renting the videotape in March 1992. The Wigdor Firm declined, informing the investigators that neither plaintiff would be allowed to be interviewed, unless the investigators promised that anything either plaintiff said could not be used in any future litigation or proceeding. In addition to Henrys alleged violent sexual misconduct, the lawsuit also claims sexual harassment by Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Howard Kurtz, and Gianno Caldwell. Areu said she was also propositioned by Gianno Caldwell, a Fox contributor. I currently have another lawsuit in the courts, after Illinois federal judges have ignored every other lawsuit I've filed! Over time, the lawsuit alleged, Henrys treatment of Eckhart became increasingly violent. She believes Abrams or someone else saw her manuscript. Foti said Henry had received graphic photos and suggestive messages from Eckhart. When she instead invited him to dinner with her and a friend, he declined, she said. Rather, Mr. Henrys employment was terminated because Fox News realized that it was on the precipice of a public relations nightmare and wanted to get out ahead of this suit and be able to claim that it had done the right thing. As if this were not already obvious enough, shortly after this, Mr. Kurtz stated to Ms. Areu, in sum and substance, 'youre the only woman here who wont come to my hotel room.' Cox, a lawyer in Evansville, also suffered severe head injuries and amnesia, in a 1979 motorcycle accident. As we know having watched the Weinstein trial (and represented many of his victims), that myth simply is not true. It alleges a litany of sexual misconduct, ranging from sexual harassment to forced oral sex, against Henry, as well as allegations of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, discriminationand retaliatory conductagainstother network stars, including Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz. Pictured above are four Henry Ford health care workers in front of Henry Ford Hospital on April 8, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Carlson promptly retaliated against Ms. Areu, who was featured on his show only three times in 2019 and has not appeared once in 2020.. Areu alleges in the complaint that Henry sent her "a slew of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages" including photographs and video. Over 50 Michigan health care workers have filed a lawsuit with their employer, stating that the COVID-19 vaccine is an infringement upon their human rights. Ed Henry, who was fired last Julyby Fox News Channelover a sexual misconduct allegation, filed multiple lawsuits this weekfor defamation,including one against NPR and CNNcorrespondents and anotheragainst Fox News and its CEO Suzanne Scott. Following the news, Carlson went on a planned vacation., This is a BETA experience. The lawsuit filed in New York describes Areus discomfort with a March 2018 incident on the set of Hannitys show where the host allegedly put $100 on a desk and challenged the men on his staff to take her out on a date. The culture under Ailes was subsequently given the Hollywood treatment:"Bombshell," which earned Charlize Theron an Oscar nomination for playing Megyn Kelly this year,is based on the 2016 real-life sexual misconduct allegations against Ailes. The allegation follows Henry's firing on July 1, which the networks chief executive, Suzanne Scott, and its president, Jay Wallace, emailed employees to say was based on investigative findings after a complaint from a former employees attorney; the suit alleges the network was aware of sexual misconduct by Henry in early 2017, but in a statement to Forbes, Fox News denies there were any claims prior to Eckharts on June 25, 2020. "Mr. Henry was not terminated after Fox News learned of these complaints. A lawsuit filed by two women in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Monday accuses former Fox News chief national correspondent Ed In 2019, she said Kurtz invited her to his hotel room to discuss her hope of getting a full-time job at Fox. Henry was terminated on July 1 after Fox News received a complaint on June 25 from a former employee about Henrys behavior from years ago, according to a statement made in July by Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace. In other words, a significant part of this investigators time is spent defending companies like Fox News against allegations such as the ones brought herein. In 2016, Fox News then-CEO, Roger Ailes, was accused by multiple women of sexual harassment and creating a toxic culture for women. A frequent guest on Carlson's show in 2017 and 2018, the lawsuit says he tried to proposition her to join him alone in a hotel room in December 2018, and when she refused he "promptly retaliated against Ms. Areu, whowas featured on his show only three times in 2019 and has not appeared once in 2020.". Weeks after Henry's firing in 2020,the former employee who made the complaint that resulted in his oustersued him, alleging rape. Henry's lawsuit also accuses Scott of "whitewashing" sexual misconduct by network employees, including an alleged affair between a company subordinate and Fox News President Jay Wallace, who co-signed the statement regarding Henry's termination with Scott. This is not one of those cases. EVANSVILLE, Ind. All Rights Reserved. The cable news network fired Henry after Fox Media completed an independent investigation into a former employee's sexual misconduct claim. Ms. Ailes, who died in 2017, denied all charges made against him, including those of Gretchen Carlson, an anchor whose 2016 suit against him sparked a wholesale reckoning at Fox News and its parent company. The suit alleges Caldwell, a Fox News political analyst based in Miami, texted a video of him with Ann Coulter and said Ann is my friend. The suit alleges Caldwell used that to attempt to coerce Areu into dating him. The lawsuit asserts Fox executives knew that Henry had been accused of sexual misconduct long before June 25. You dont own me, Eckhart replied. In the same case, a former Fox employee said she was harassed and raped by news anchor Ed Henry, who was fired July 1 shortly after the network became aware of the accusations. Regarding Henry was released in 1991, but the couple didn't see it until renting the videotape in March 1992. This is not one of those cases. Fox News issued a statement on behalf of Hannity, Carlson and Kurtz, calling the claims in the suit "false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit.". Ultimately, we are confident that a jury will hold Fox News responsible for the acts of its employees, as well as its own conduct in responding to these allegations., The attorney for Areu and Eckhart continued: Fox News claimsas it almost always doesthat an independent investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. In 2016, Henry was demoted by the network from his job as White House correspondent and took a leave of absence following allegations of an extramarital affair with a Las Vegas hostess and stripper. Areu was a frequent guest on Howard Kurtzs Sunday MediaBuzz program, and Kurtz (a former Daily Beast columnist until 2013) , knowing that she was trying to get a job at Fox News, repeatedly invited her in March and July of 2019 to dinner and drinks, and also to his New York hotel room, the complaint alleged. ";s:7:"keyword";s:23:"regarding henry lawsuit";s:5:"links";s:366:"Fanny Hill Illustrations Pdf,
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