Former Fox News Co-President Bill Shine, who was an ally of the network’s late CEO Roger Ailes, has accepted a job as the White House deputy chief of staff for communications, ABC News reported Wednesday, citing multiple unnamed sources.
The New York Times first reported earlier Wednesday, citing two unnamed people familiar with the decision, that Shine was likely to be named White House communications director.
Shine left Fox News in May last year amid accusations that he helped cover up a number of sexual harassment allegations at the company.
In a 2016 lawsuit, former Fox News anchor Andrea Tantaros accused former Fox News star Bill O’Reilly and Ailes of sexual harassment, and Shine and others of looking the other way and pressuring her to drop her complaints. A judge ruled that the suit was covered by the arbitration clause in Tantaros’ contract.
In a subsequent suit, which was dismissed after a year, Tantaros accused Shine and others of using sophisticated hacking and surveillance techniques, in addition to “sock puppet” social media accounts, to monitor and harass her.
In April of last year, Fox News contributor Julie Roginsky accused Ailes of sexual harassment in a lawsuit, and accused Shine of retaliating against her when she refused or complained about Ailes’ harassment.
“Shine aided and abetted Ailes’ acts of retaliation and harassment,” Roginsky claimed in her suit, which was eventually settled.
O’Reilly on Wednesday broadcast his support in a tweet:
If Bill Shine gets the job of White House communications director, that will be good for the country. Shine is smart and honest. But the President has to listen to him!
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) June 27, 2018
This post has been updated.
ETTD !
(the harder they come, the harder they fall) Shine is a close friend of Hannity, so he can’t be smart…
I’m already looking forward to his replacement.
A sexual harassment enabler hired to work for Trump. Yeah, he’ll fit right in. I guess the guy they really wanted couldn’t get paroled out of prison from that child molestation conviction.
Well, I’m looking forward to see Shine in action, it will be spectacular !
Fine by me. Get all the traitors in one place.