Suspended Fox Host Suing Reporter Who Published Sexual Harassment Claims

Republican presidential candidate New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, fourth left, appears on "The Five" television program, on the Fox News Channel, in New York,  Wednesday, July 22, 2015. The show's co-host are, from left: Kimberly Guilfoyle, Juan Williams, Eric Bolling, Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
FILE - In this July 22, 2015 file photo, co-host Eric Bolling appears on "The Five" television program, on the Fox News Channel, in New York. Fox News announced on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, that Bolling has been suspen... FILE - In this July 22, 2015 file photo, co-host Eric Bolling appears on "The Five" television program, on the Fox News Channel, in New York. Fox News announced on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, that Bolling has been suspended while it investigates a report that “The Specialists” co-host sent at least three female colleagues a lewd text message. Bolling’s lawyer calls the accusations untrue and says he and his client are cooperating with the investigation. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

A reporter who published sexual harassment allegations about Fox News host Eric Bolling said on Wednesday that Bolling filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against him.

Yashar Ali, a reporter for the Huffington Post, on Wednesday said he “received a summons” related to Bolling’s suit against him for “defamation” and “$50 million in damages.”

Bolling has been suspended indefinitely following the report.

Bolling on Monday said he would “continue to fight against these false smear attacks.”

A Fox News spokesperson told TPM the investigation into Bolling is still ongoing.

Ali on Friday published a report citing at least a dozen unnamed sources linked to Fox News and Fox Business who confirmed allegations that Bolling sent unsolicited text messages with photos of male genitalia to at least three of his colleagues.

Fox News on Saturday announced Bolling’s indefinite suspension “pending the results of an investigation” by Paul Weiss, the same law firm that investigated allegations of sexual harassment against former Fox chairman Roger Ailes and former host Bill O’Reilly, who both left the network.

“I look forward to clearing my name asap,” Bolling tweeted on Monday.

The firm defending Bolling — Kasowitz, Benson and Torres LLP — boasts one of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyers as a founding partner. Marc Kasowitz joined Trump’s outside legal team in May to help him navigate the federal investigation into potential collusion between his campaign officials and Russia.

Kasowitz was Trump’s longtime private attorney and has been one of his chief weapons to intimidate and threaten the press, threatening the New York Times in October 2016 with a lawsuit for a report on women who accused Trump of sexual assault (the paper responded that it would “welcome the opportunity,” and a lawsuit never materialized).

Read the summons:

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. I bet there are a lot of lawyers who would love to represent the guy on a contingency basis, or even for free. Bolling probably thinks he can intimidate him away, but apparently he doesn’t know who he is messing with.

  2. Avatar for caltg caltg says:

    Aha, reporter vs reporter? This should be interesting.

    Ever hear of counter suits?

    Order more popcorn.

  3. Bolling is foolishly “opening the door.” It could fly back and hit him in the, um, er, well, you know…

  4. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Pretty sure his reputation is not worth $50 million. Ought to be able to settle for two bits.

    On the up side, I’d rather get a frivolous lawsuit from Bolling than have to view a pic of his package.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

118 more replies

Participants

Avatar for paulw Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for richardinjax Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for kufpu Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for psyclone Avatar for sparrowhawk Avatar for gobydoc Avatar for blugrass Avatar for pb Avatar for gharlane Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for tena Avatar for bkmn Avatar for caltg Avatar for cola Avatar for timbo Avatar for maheto Avatar for coprophagoussmile Avatar for canisthewarrior Avatar for the_loan_arranger Avatar for ohcomeonnow

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: