Republicans are gathered in Cleveland — where Ailes's career began. At 76, he could be cast out of the network he built as CEO.
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| Gretchen Carlson, Roger Ailes and Megyn Kelly |
CLEVELAND, OH — Roger Ailes appears to be on his way out at Fox News, the news network he built into a powerful, influential and friendly voice for conservatives, due to allegations of sexual harassment that stretch back for decades.
Ailes is the only CEO Fox News has ever had. Two of the network's most recognizable women — Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly — are said to be among the women whom Ailes, 76, made advances on.
Carlson went public with her claims of Ailes' smarmy behavior in a lawsuit filed against Fox News earlier this year. Carlson, a former beauty queen before her broadcasting career, alleges her contract was not renewed after she spurned sexual advances by Ailes.
Kelly, a Chicago lawyer before becoming a Fox anchor and host, has not said anything publicly, but neither has she defended Ailes as other women came forward after Carlson's lawsuit with their own stories of extreme chauvinism and "play-to-get-paid" overtures. New York magazine, citing two sources, reports Kelly told investigators hired by 21st Century Fox how Ailes harassed her 10 years ago.
Ailes reportedly was given an Aug. 1 deadline by media baron Rupert Murdoch to resign or face termination. Ailes' attorney, Susan Estrich, told The New York Times Ailes is in advanced stages of discussions about his departure as chairman of Fox News.
The news comes as Republicans are gathered in Cleveland, Ohio, for the four-day GOP convention. Fox News is a favored source of information among conservatives and Republican faithful, and word that Ailes could be on his way out for such horrible conduct is a shock to many delegates and guests at the convention.
Bill Knowles of Georgia said if Ailes is guilty, he must go.
"If he did something stupid, he needs to resign," Knowles told Patch on Tuesday. "Bottom line, he shouldn't be above the law like anybody else just because he's the CEO of a network."
Murdoch reportedly wants the convention to end before Ailes departs the network.
Ailes was a media consultant for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. His television career began in Cleveland as a staffer for "The Mike Douglas Show." He worked his way up to executive producer and put the show into national syndication.
After his turn in national politics, he became the founding CEO of Fox News in 1986.
Fox has long been the preferred network for Republican elected officials to go on air to share their views.
Throughout this primary season, Fox News was antagonistic toward Donald Trump, who officially became the GOP nominee for president Tuesday night in Cleveland, ever since Trump hurled mean-spirited insults at Kelly on Twitter and during early primary debates.
One South Carolina Republican at the convention told Patch she was skeptical of the shocking allegations against Ailes, a Warren, Ohio, native. Dale Ranney is a loyal Fox News viewer.
"Wow! How easily a man can be brought down! It seems suspicious to me because (Carlson) didn't bring anything up until after she left the position," Ranney said. "But wow!"
Another said Ailes should stand up for himself and fight — if he's innocent. Breck Greninger of Nevada held out the possibility he's being wrongfully tarred.
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| A Fox News bus on the streets of Cleveland during the Republican convention. Fans posed for photos next to the bus. Photo by Dennis Robaugh | Patch.com |