Fox News settles over office sexual assault
NEW YORK CITY: A former Fox News contributor says she was sexually assaulted by a network executive and has reportedly reached a settlement of more than US$2.5 million (about 88.5 million baht) in the incident.
Tamara Holder, who worked as a legal and political analyst for Fox News beginning in 2010, reported that the assault occurred at the company’s New York City headquarters two years ago.
“In September 2016 Fox News contributor Tamara Holder reported an incident of sexual assault at Fox News headquarters from the prior year,” according to a joint statement from the network and Ms Holder.
“Immediately after Ms Holder notified Fox News of the alleged incident, the company promptly investigated the matter and took decisive action, for which Ms Holder thanks the network.”
Ms Holder, whose contract ended on Jan 1, left the network.
“Fox News is grateful to Ms Holder for her many contributions during her tenure at the network and wishes her continued success,” the statement said.
Ms Holder did not immediately report the incident, which occurred in February 2015, to Fox or the police because she feared it would hurt her career, The New York Times reported, citing interviews with four people briefed on her account and documents detailing her claims.
The network executive, she said, attempted to force her to perform oral sex on him in February 2015 when they were alone in his office, the Times reported.
After Ms Holder reported the claim to Fox, the network investigated her claims, and Francisco Cortes, the vice-president for Fox News Latino, was terminated, two people familiar with the matter told the Times. Ms Holder left Fox News after her contract expired on Jan 1.
In late February 2017, Fox News’ parent company 21st Century Fox reached a settlement worth more than $2.5 million with Ms Holder, the Times reported according to people briefed on the settlement.
Mr Cortes’ attorney could not be reached for comment, but he told the Times: “I am presently considering Mr Cortes’ legal options.”