Fox on-air contributor Julie Roginsky sues Fox Network citing wide spread culture of sexism and retribution against women who speak out

Lawsuit accuses Bill Shine of retaliation, Roger Ailes of sexual harassment and retaliation

High-profile political consultant and Fox News contributor Julie Roginsky filed a lawsuit today in New York State Supreme Court against Fox News Network LLC, former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, and current co-President Bill Shine, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation by Ailes and Fox News and further retaliation by Shine.

In the lawsuit Roginsky describes meetings during which Ailes repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances, including stating that she should engage in sexual relationships with “older, married, conservative men” because “they may stray but they always come back because they’re loyal” and that loyalty was a “two way street.”  Roginsky also alleges that Ailes repeadtedly insisted on a kiss “hello” but would not get out of his chair, using the occasion of Roginsky bending over to look down her dress. At these meetings Ailes also made crude sexual comments about other female on air talent.

The suit alleges that Roginsky was retaliated against for refusing Ailes’ sexual advances, including being denied a promised permanent hosting position on “The Five” and segment hosting opportunities on “Outnumbered.” After she rejected Ailes’ most direct sexual advance, Ailes refused to ever meet with her again, according to the Complaint.

The lawsuit also alleges that Roginsky suffered retaliation by Shine and Fox News when she refused to disparage Gretchen Carlson after Carlson sued Ailes for sexual harassment and retaliation in July of 2016.  Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Roginsky resisted Fox News pressure to join “Team Roger.”  In refusing to get on board, Roginsky let it be known that she believed Carlson because Ailes had similarly harassed and retaliated against her, saying “it happened to me.”

The Complaint alleges that Shine, Fox News’ General Counsel Dianne Brandi, and Fox News’ Executive Vice President Suzanne Scott became aware of Ailes’ sexual harassment and retaliation against Roginsky, and that Roginsky personally recounted the harassment and retaliation by Ailes in a meeting with Shine and Scott on November 29, 2016.  The Complaint further states that Fox News never investigated Roginsky’s complaints and that no one at Fox (including Shine, Brandi and Scott) advised Roginsky to contact attorneys at the Paul Weiss law firm who were reportedly investigating Ailes’ pattern of sexual harassment. Nor did anyone at Paul Weiss ever contact Roginsky.  The Complaint further alleges that up to and including the time during which Roginsky was sexually harassed and retaliated against by Ailes, she was never advised that Fox News had a policy prohibiting sexual harassment, nor was she made aware of any reporting mechanism or policy prohibiting retaliation against those who complained about sexual harassment. Rather, Roginsky says she witnessed retaliation against those who complained.

Roginsky is seeking, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages.  Roginsky does not have an arbitration agreement with Fox News, Ailes or Shine.  Such agreements have been used by Fox News in the past to keep allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation and other wrongdoing secret.

“We look forward to a public trial in front of a jury in New York City,” said Roginsky’s attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, of Smith Mullin in Montclair NJ.  Roginsky is also represented by Neil Mullin of Smith Mullin, and Martin Hyman and Matthew Daly of New York’s Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP.