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New Lawsuit Details Alleged Sexual Harassment by Roger Ailes

Dec 14, 2016  •  Post A Comment

A lawsuit filed Tuesday against 21st Century Fox details allegations of sexual harassment by ousted Fox News Channel Chairman Roger Ailes. The New York Times reports that the 28-page discrimination and hostile work environment suit, which can be found here, was filed by Lidia Curanaj, a reporter for Fox 5 in New York.

The complaint names 21st Century Fox, Fox Entertainment Group and Fox Television Stations as defendants. It describes an incident that allegedly took place when Curanaj was interviewed by Ailes while applying for a job at Fox News.

“According to the complaint, Mr. Ailes asked her to stand up and turn around during a one-on-one interview, so that he could ‘see [her] from behind,'” The Times reports. “‘I like what I see,’ Mr. Ailes then said, the suit asserts. Ms. Curanaj, whose legal name is Lidija Ujkic, left the interview thinking she would land a job offer, according to the suit.”

Ailes allegedly followed up with a call to a man Curanaj had dated, inquiring, “How’s the sex?” and asking whether she “put out.” According to the suit, the man described Curanaj as a “very nice girl.”

“Shortly after, Ms. Curanaj received a call from Mr. Ailes, who told her that she was not ready for Fox News and that she instead should contact Fox’s local stations, she says in the suit,” The Times reports. “Ms. Curanaj believed that she did not ‘receive the position at F.N.C. because Ailes determined that she would not submit to him sexually,’ the suit states.”

The report adds: “A spokesman for 21st Century Fox declined to comment, as did a lawyer for Mr. Ailes. A representative for Fox Television Stations said in a statement: ‘We do not think the plaintiff’s claims have merit, and we intend to defend vigorously.’”

The complaint cites a number of alleged incidents involving “approximately 24 women,” which the complaint says “shockingly reveal that Ailes regularly used his position of power to threaten and control women in junior positions through sexual conduct.”

One example cited in the suit is that of Laurie Luhn, described in the complaint as “a former FNC booker who alleged, inter alia, that Ailes forced her to recruit young staffers for him and told her, ‘You are going to find me “Roger’s Angels.” You are going to find me whores.'”

One Comment

  1. Roger Failed: The gift that keeps on giving…

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