Blake Farenthold

Name: Blake Farenthold

Age: 

Role: U.S. Congressman (R-Tx),  leads the House Oversight subcommittee on the interior, energy and environment

Accusations: A former employee has accused Farenthold of sexually harassing her, and then retaliating against her when she filed a complaint about his behavior. He settled her claim for $84,000, a sum that was paid out of taxpayer funds. It was one of 6 settlements of various kinds paid out by the Congressman since 2013.

Consequences for his actions: The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Farenthold’s behavior. Farenthold not seek reelection. Read the House Ethics Committee’s statement.

Farenthold’s Response: Insists that he’s done nothing wrong.

Plaintiff Lauren Green’s original complaint: http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/farenthold_complaint_20141212.pdf

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/21/blake-farenthold-ethics-probe-313642

 

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“Representative Blake Farenthold, Republican of Texas, used $84,000 in taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment claim, one of six settlements for workplace issues ranging from veteran status discrimination to age bias that were paid out by a secretive congressional office since 2013. The six settlements for malfeasance in House offices totaled $359,450.”

Taxpayers paid $84,000 to end Sex Harassment Claim Against Texas Lawmaker, The New York Times by Yamiche Alcindor and Gay Stolberg, Dec 1, 2017 

Lauren Greene, Farenthold’s former communications director

In 2014, the congressman’s former communications director, Lauren Greene, accused him of regularly making comments to gauge her interest in a sexual relationship, including saying he was having “sexual fantasies” about her. Ms. Greene accused Mr. Farenthold and his chief of staff, Bob Haueter, of retaliating after she complained about a hostile work environment.

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Roger Ailes

Name: Roger Ailes

Age: 52

Role: Chairman and CEO of Fox News for 20 years

Accusations: First Gretchen Carlson, then Megyn Kelly, accused Ailes of sexual harassment early in their careers. They were followed by some 20 other women.

The Justice Department opened an investigation into Fox News in February, 2017. They’re looking into whether Fox News failed to inform shareholders about the massive settlements that were being paid out for these sexual harassment suits for Ailes and O’Reilly.

Company Reaction: Carlson settled with 21st Century Fox for $20 million

Ailes’s Response:Ailes denied the accusations and called it a “retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract.”

Roger Ailes died May 18, 2017 at the age of 77.

 

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Gretchen Carlson sued Roger Ailes in June, 2016, claiming she had been fired for refusing Ailes’ unwanted sexual advances. While Carlson ultimately settled her lawsuit for $20 million, she also opened the floodgates of women who began coming forward with stories of harassment and assault by not just Roger Ailes but also Bill O’Reilly. One of the women to come forward was Megyn Kelly, who at the time was one of Fox News’s biggest stars. 

What ultimately was revealed was that there had been a pervasive culture of not just harassing and assaulting women, but also actively silencing them. Numerous Fox News executives have been accused of having been complicit in the harassment schemes of Ailes and O’Reilly. 

But sexual harassment turns out to be the least of Fox News’ problems. The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether the network has been truthful with shareholders about the huge settlements it has been paying out for these harassment lawsuits. That investigation in turn has led to a second investigation, which is still ongoing, into whether crimes such as wire fraud were also committed. 

Money.CNN.com, by Brian Stelter
July 8 2016

NYMag.com, by Gabriel Sherman 
July 19, 2016

Ailes was forced to resign within a matter of weeks. However he was slated to receive in excess of $40 million, the amount due on his multi-year contract with Fox. There was much speculation about Ailes’ options, post-Fox. One was to join the Donald Trump campaign. However, Ailes died just a month after stepping down from Fox. 

Money.CNN.com, by Brian  Stelter
July 21, 2016

Gretchen Carlson 

Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox News host, files a lawsuit against Roger Ailes on July 6, 2016. In it, she claimed she was terminated for refusing Ailes’ unwanted sexual advances. Ailes denies the allegations, but ultimately settles with Carlson for $20 million on Sept 6, 2016.

Megyn Kelly 

Instead of joining the pro-Ailes voices, Kelly, one of Fox News’s biggest stars at the time, came out publicly with accusations that Ailes had sexually harassed her a decade earlier. 

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Laurie Luhn 

While most of Ailes’ accusers rebuffed his advances, Luhn gave in to him; resulting in a sexual involvement with Ailes that listed many years. Despite this fact, she says she felt “psychologically tortured” by what he did to her. 

Read Luhn’s lurid tale for yourself, to understand how such a thing could be possible. 

Andrea Tantaros 

“Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging that she was sexually harassed by former network chief Roger Ailes and host Bill O’Reilly. The suit, which describes Fox News as a misogynistic, sex-fueled cult, also alleges that newly appointed Fox News co-president Bill Shine encouraged her to drop her harassment claims.” 

Read more: Money.CNN.com, by Dylan Byers, Aug 23, 2016 

Juliet Huddy 

(this one is about Bill O’Reilly) 

Roger Ailes resigns from Fox News. 

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