Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes resigns after sexual harassment claims

Roger Ailes stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Fox News yesterday, ending a 20-year reign as head of the cable network he built into a ratings juggernaut and an influential platform for Republican politics.

Rupert Murdoch, the 85-year-old media mogul who started Fox News with Ailes, will assume the role of chairman and chief executive of Fox News channel and Fox Business Network.

Ailes' position atop Fox News was suddenly thrown into doubt two weeks ago after a former anchor, Gretchen Carlson, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. Ailes (76), denied the accusations, but Fox News' owner, 21st Century Fox, began an internal review and ultimately determined that he could no longer remain in the job.

Murdoch cut short a holiday he was on with his wife, Jerry Hall, on the French Riviera to return and attend to Ailes' departure agreement.

His sons, James and Lachlan, who have assumed leadership roles in the company, have been in contact with their father this week discussing Ailes’ future. –(NYT)