Ex-Fox worker says she was blocked from Trump-Russia inquiry

A former Fox News employee said Monday that the network blocked her from going to Moscow to investigate President Donald Trump’s links with Russia, one of several claims of news bias at 21st Century Fox made by former and current workers opposing its takeover of Sky.

“You can’t do in-depth reporting if you’re not there,” Jessica Golloher, a former Fox Radio correspondent who is suing the division for alleged gender discrimination, testified at a gathering with British lawmakers and citizens in Parliament on Monday. “Fox didn’t let me go to Moscow to dig into Trump’s Russian connections, even when I offered to pay my own way.”

“Fox is just buying what the White House is selling.”

Golloher’s claim follows allegations earlier this year that Trump colluded with Fox on a story to divert attention from his ties with Russia. She made the remarks shortly after meeting the Competition & Markets Authority, which is investigating the $15.5 billion Sky merger on grounds of media plurality and whether Fox has a genuine commitment to broadcasting standards.

A Fox representative cited a Fox News statement from May without reference to Monday’s hearing. In May, the company said, “Jessica Golloher’s claims are without merit. Her allegations of discrimination and retaliation are baseless. We will vigorously defend the matter.”

Golloher’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, who is representing 27 current and former Fox employees in a range of harassment and discrimination lawsuits against the company, also provided testimony.