Roger Ailes of Fox News 'sexually harassed more than 20 women'

Mr Ailes is one of the most powerful media figures in the country

(Rex Features)

Roger Ailes, the Fox News executive in departure talks with the company he helped build, has reportedly been accused of sexual harassment by more than 20 women.

Mr Ailes, 76, is the focus on an investigation being conducted by lawyers hired by Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox, after a former Fox anchor, Gretchen Carlson, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit. She said Mr Ailes, did not renew her contract as she rebuffed his sexual advances and she challenged a “sexist” newsroom culture.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Megyn Kelly, probably the most high profile female journalist on the network, had told those lawyers that she too was sexually harassed by Mr Ailes more than a decade ago. Mr Ailes has strongly denied both accusations.

Megyn Kelly (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Now it has been reported that more than 20 women have made accusations against the Fox News CEO and chairman, and detailed these alleged incidents to Ms Carlson’s lawyers.

The new accusations range in time from Mr Ailes’s time at Fox News to his role in the 60s as executive producer on The Mike Douglas Show, the Guardian said.

Almost all of the 20-plus women claim they experienced Mr Ailes’ harassment firsthand. In a few cases, said spokesman John Garger, the accusations were as “severe” as those in Ms Carlson’s lawsuit.

“The messages are still coming in,” he said.

Roger Ailes (Getty)

This week it was reported that Mr Ailes, one of the most powerful and controversial figures in the American media, is set to leave his position with a huge payout amid the mounting furore.

It is possible that some of the channel’s biggest names, such as Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, could leave with him. One report said Mr Ailes could receive as much as $40m in a pay-out.

New York magazine reported that 21st Century Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch and his sons, Lachlan and James, had settled on removing Mr Ailes after reviewing the initial findings of the probe into the allegation of sexual harassment made by Ms Carlson.

Mr Ailes had denied the allegations levelled at him by Ms Carlson, and likewise rejected the claim that he had made advances to Ms Kelly.

'“Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly,” his lawyer, Susan Estrich, said in a statement.

“In fact, he has spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her to achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him.”

In a statement, 21st Century Fox, said: “Roger is at work. The review is ongoing. And the only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement.”