Fox News is potentially in even more legal trouble as a former female network contributor has filed a lawsuit against the network. This time a male host on the Fox Business Channel is being accused of raping the woman in question.
Fox News trouble
In recent years, the Fox News brand has taken a hit and for more than just the network's conservative viewpoint. It all started back in July 2016 when Roger Ailes, the channel's founder and former CEO, was forced to step-down after an onslaught of allegations claiming he sexually harassed several female employees.
The network once again came under fire earlier this year when news broke that Fox News mainstay Bill O'Reilly had been paying off multiple women who claimed the host had sexually harassed them. In addition, host Sean Hannity was also hit with similar allegations, but those have since been unfounded as of press time. Another example is in the form of Eric Bolling, the one time co-host of "The Five," who was let go after allegations that he sent lewd text messages and pictures to female colleagues. The latest issue comes from a report in The New York Times on September 18, where ex-network contributor Scottie Nell Hughes is alleging she was raped by Fox Business host Charles Payne.
Charles Payne is a contributor to Fox News, as well as being the host of "Makin' Money" on the Fox Business Channel. In July, Payne was suspended by the network after Scottie Nell Hughes accused him of sexual harassment. Payne denied the allegations against him, but admitted that the two had a "romantic relationship" for three years, which reportedly ended in 2015. After an internal investigation, Payne returned to programming earlier this month.
Despite this, Scottie Nell Hughes has decided to file a lawsuit, doing so on Monday and claiming that she was raped by Charles Payne. "In July of 2013, I was raped by Charles Payne. In July of 2017, I was raped again by Fox News," Hughes told the paper, while adding, "Since then, I have been living an absolute hell." As of press time, neither the company nor Payne have offered a comment in response to the lawsuit in question.
Next up
While yet another lawsuit is directed at the conservative network, the network continues to struggle to re-brand themselves when it comes to the culture behind and in front of the camera. As another allegation of sexual assault and harassment is brought forward, only time will tell if Fox News can survive.