Media

Fox News reaches $2.5M settlement over sexual assault allegations

by Joe Concha - 03/08/17 9:53 PM ET

Fox News has reportedly reached a more than $2.5 million settlement with a former contributor who said she was sexually assaulted by an executive.

The New York Times reported that former contributor Tamara Holder alleged that an executive “tried to force her to perform oral sex in February 2015.”

In a joint statement, Holder and Fox said the company had taken “decisive action” on the alleged assault.

“In September 2016 Fox News contributor Tamara Holder reported an incident of sexual assault at Fox News headquarters from the prior year,” the statement reads.

“Immediately after Ms. Holder notified Fox News of the alleged incident, the Company promptly investigated the matter and took decisive action, for which Ms. Holder thanks the network. Following the completion of her contract on January 1, 2017, Ms. Holder left the network. Fox News is grateful to Ms. Holder for her many contributions during her tenure at the network and wishes her continued success.”

Holder didn’t report the alleged incident immediately after it occurred, according to the Times, because the attorney and author feared that it could destroy her career.

{mosads}Holder eventually reported the charge to Fox News last fall.

The executive Holder claimed sexually assaulted her, Fox News Latino vice president Francisco Cortes, was fired after an investigation.

Holder left the network after her contract expired in January.

“Yes, I was sexually assaulted. Immediately after I told the company where I worked about the incident, it promptly investigated the matter and took action, which I appreciate,” Holder wrote in an email to the New York Times.

In September, 21st Century Fox settled with former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson for $20 million over sexual harassment allegations in July against former Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, who resigned after an internal investigation.

Following Carlson’s suit, multiple women who worked at the network have come forward with similar allegations of harassment, including former host Megyn Kelly and political pundit Andrea Tantaros.