The Huffington Post reports that Fox News disclosed that it had paid a total of $45 million to cover expenses, "related to settlements of pending and potential litigations following the July 2016 resignation of the Chairman and CEO of Fox News Channel after a public complaint was filed containing allegations of sexual harassment," in a quarterly report released Wednesday.
The disclosure follows months of revelations tied to what some feel is a toxic culture of misogyny and harassment existing behind the scenes of America's most popular conservative news network.
The report also states that $10 million in settlements have been paid in the first three months of 2017 alone. When subtracted from the $20 million that was paid to former "Fox and Friends" co-host Gretchen Carlson in her suit, that leaves $15 million for other comparable settlements.
By comparison, Ailes is rumored to have received roughly $40 million when he left the network, while Bill O'Reilly (who also faced sexual harassment allegations) received a $25 million payout.
The network is currently under federal investigation in part because prosecutors are concerned that Fox didn't adequately inform its shareholders about the settlement payments that have been made.
Despite these issues, Fox News continues to receive high ratings, with 21st Century Fox executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch telling an earnings conference call on Wednesday that, "Fox News has delivered its highest rated quarter ever." Murdoch also professed optimism about the financial future of the company.
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