Fox business-show host suspended

LOS ANGELES — A Fox Business Network host has been suspended after a contributor reportedly accused him of sexual harassment.

The network said it had suspended Making Money host Charles Payne pending an investigation, but didn’t provide any details.

The Los Angeles Times, quoting two anonymous sources, reported that Payne had been accused of harassment by a female political analyst who appeared on Fox Business.

“We take issues of this nature extremely seriously and have a zerotolerance policy for any professional misconduct,” a Fox Business Network spokesman said in a statement.

“This matter is being thoroughly investigated and we are taking all of the appropriate steps to reach a resolution in a timely manner.”

A lawyer for Payne didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Lawyer Neal Korval told the Los Angeles Times his client denies any act of sexual harassment against the woman.

The suspension followed a National Enquirer story Wednesday saying Payne had acknowledged a three-year extramarital affair with a female political analyst.

The Times reported Thursday that the woman contacted a law firm representing Fox to lodge a claim of sexual misconduct. She alleges she was blackballed from Fox after she ended the affair, the paper said. The woman was a frequent guest on Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel from 2013 to 2016, according to the Times.

The paper withheld her name, citing the nature of her allegations, including a claim that she was coerced into a relationship with Payne.