Has Paul, Weiss Secured Roger Ailes's Ouster?
Paul Weiss may have accomplished what MSNBC has only dreamt about.
Roger Ailes (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
This story is filled with rumors, so take it with a grain of salt, but New York Magazine is reporting that Roger Ailes’s reign as the head of Fox News is coming to an end. The Biglaw behemoth, Paul, Weiss, has been tasked with investigating the allegations behind Gretchen Carlson’s sexual harassment lawsuit. And according to sources, Rupert Murdoch and sons Lachlan and James, who are the co-chairmen and CEO, respectively, of 21st Century Fox, having been briefed on the results of the investigation so far, are in agreement that Ailes should go. The only question is when:
After reviewing the initial findings of the probe, James Murdoch is said to be arguing that Ailes should be presented with a choice this week to resign or face being fired. Lachlan is more aligned with their father, who thinks that no action should be taken until after the GOP convention this week. Another source confirms that all three are in agreement that Ailes needs to go.
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The scope of the investigation has broadened from just looking into Carlson’s allegations, according to New York Mag sources, to probing Ailes’s overall management style:
The lawyers are seeking to interview former female employees of Fox News in addition to current staff. They are also looking into the appropriateness of Ailes’s pressuring employees to speak out on his behalf, against his accusers. For instance, they are focusing on an op-ed written by Fox Business anchor Neil Cavuto in which Cavuto called the allegations against Ailes “sick.” As Cavuto is a manager at Fox News (his title is senior VP and managing editor), his comments could be seen as part of a corporate attempt to silence women who would speak out.
Ailes supporters allegedly describe the mood in the office as “bleak.”
Paul, Weiss may have accomplished what MSNBC has only dreamt about.
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Murdochs Have Decided to Remove Roger Ailes — the Only Question Now Is When [New York Magazine]
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).
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