In light of fallout from multiple sexual harassment allegations, Roger Ailes seems to be preparing for war. The Daily Beast has reported that journalist Gabriel Sherman, who wrote a New York Times bestselling biography of Ailes, is planning to launch a “major exposé” on the former Fox News Chairman and CEO in New York Magazine. For his part, Ailes has reportedly hired a number of attorneys to go on the defensive.
Sherman has broken a number of Ailes-related stories over the past few months, including Megyn Kelly’s reported claim that Ailes harassed her too. And unsurprisingly, the upcoming NY Magazine piece is expected to zero in on Ailes’ alleged behavior towards the women he has worked with during his time at Fox News. Considering all of the unflattering stories that have come out already, Sherman must have dug up some substantial (alleged) dirt to rile up Ailes to such a degree.
And Ailes may not need more press at the moment, as he is facing multiple lawsuits and may be advising Donald Trump. One Ailes attorney, Susan Estrich, said this expose is just Sherman grasping at straws and asserts that he is the one exploiting these women:
“Gabe Sherman has made clear that nothing will stand in the way of his vendetta against Roger Ailes, and he will use any woman he can find — no matter how clearly and deeply troubled she is — to try to concoct allegations against Mr. Ailes. Gabe is running out of women he can use and abuse. Ultimately, it will be clear that the real enemy of women is Gabe Sherman.”
Sherman certainly isn’t a newfound enemy of the Ailes camp. CNN’s Brian Stelter reported that Fox News had compiled a book-length file on Sherman. Presumably, the 400-page opposition file contains pertinent information about Sherman that Ailes and the network could have used when the book was released. And one of the anonymous Fox News employees who provided the memo about the file to CNN believed the network also had files on them.
If all of this is true, and given those “black room” stories, the existence of an “opp file” is easy to believe, it seems as if Ailes is preparing for the worst to come. A number of employees have come out in support of him, but Ailes must be worried about something.
(Via The Daily Beast & CNN Money)