Fox News contributor Julie Roginsky filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News, its current president and its former chairman and president Roger Ailes, who was ousted following multiple allegations last year.
Roginsky filed the lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court on Monday, the New York Times reported. The suit claims she was retaliated against for rejecting sexual advances from Ailes and was punished for refusing to denounce Gretchen Carlson, who previously sued Ailes over sexual harassment.
The suit alleges Ailes told her to bend down to kiss him “hello,” and that they would get in “so much trouble” if they went “out for a drink.” It also alleges Ailes told Roginsky she should “engage in sexual relationships with ‘older, married, conservative men.’’
Roginsky is a contributor who appears on the shows The Five and Outnumbered. She says she was denied a permanent position, and was pulled from her regular rotation from the shows.
“Roginsky refused to engage in a sexual relationship with Ailes,” the suit says. “As a result, Fox News and Ailes retaliated.”
The claims in her lawsuit are similar to those made by Carlson, whose lawsuit led to Ailes’ departure from the network. He has denied the claims and settled Carlson’s suit for $20 million. Roginsky is represented by Nancy Erika Smith — the same lawyer who represented Carlson.
The new lawsuit also comes after the Times reported that Fox News paid millions to five women in exchange for their agreement not to sue the company over sexual assault allegations they had against host Bill O’Reilly.
A representative for Fox News did not respond to a request for comment.