CNN Anchor Alisyn Camerota Says She Was Harassed by Ailes

By Rebecca Morin, Politico

23 April 17

ormer Fox News reporter and weekend anchor Alisyn Camerota said Sunday that she was sexually harassed by the channel's former chairman, Roger Ailes.

In an interview on CNN's "Reliable Sources," Camerota told host Brian Stelter, "Yes, Roger Ailes did sexually harass me."

Camerota, who left Fox News for CNN in 2014, is one of multiple women who have come forth about their treatment by Ailes. In July 2016, former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes. Earlier this month, contributor Julie Roginsky filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against Fox News, Ailes and the network's current co-president Bill Shine.

Ailes has denied all the allegations. He stepped down as chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel in July 2016.

In a statement to CNN, Susan Estrich, an attorney for Ailes, denied Camerota's assertions, saying they "are unsubstantiated and false allegations."

"Mr. Ailes never engaged in the inappropriate conversations she now claims occurred, and he vigorously denies this fictional account of her interactions with him and of Fox News editorial policy," Estrich continued in the statement.

During Sunday's interview, Camerota described Ailes as someone who "could be charming. He could be quite charismatic. He could be uproariously funny."

She also said, however, that he could "be a bit of a bully, and mean."

"He also was often kind of grossly inappropriate with things that he would say, and I think that many of us experienced that. He would talk about body parts. He would say, 'Give me a spin.' He would want to be greeted with a hug," Camerota said.

"But the time that I remember most was when I was first starting out at Fox and I was single, and I remember Roger, being in Roger's office, and I was saying that I wanted more opportunity," she said. "He said: 'Well, I would have to work with you. I would have to work with you on that case. I would have to work with you really closely, and it may require us getting to know each other better, and that might have to happen away from here, and it might have to happen at a hotel. Do you know what I'm saying?' And I said: 'Yeah, I think I do know what you're saying.'"

Camerota said she did not go to a hotel with Ailes and did not tell anyone of the incident at the time, adding that she "was embarrassed, and it is sort of humiliating."

Following her rebuff, Camerota said, Ailes began to bully her about her presentation of news not being conservative enough.

Camerota said she was never harassed by Bill O'Reilly, who has been accused of harassment by other former Fox News staffers. O'Reilly was fired from Fox News earlier this month.