Gretchen Carlson Secretly Recorded Roger Ailes Sexually Harassing Her (Video)

Roger Ailes, former CEO of Fox News and current adviser to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, can’t seem to catch a break. As if being forced from his long-held position at the top of America’s most watched, and least trustworthy news network wasn’t bad enough, it looks as if Gretchen Carlson has more dirt on him than he knew.

It seems she had the foresight to secretly record his indecent behavior.

A Fall From Grace

Fox dumped Ailes on July 21 after a seemingly endless cascade of sexual harassment allegations caught up with, and then overwhelmed, the 76-year-old self-imagined Lothario. An internal investigation ordered by News Corporation chairman and CEO, Rupert Murdoch, failed to exonerate him. It did not take long to reach the inevitable conclusion that Ailes had become a liability.

Not that anyone at Fox was prepared to admit that. Speaking just hours after replacing him as the head of the network Murdoch said

“Roger has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years.”

Over 20 great years for Ailes, perhaps. For the company’s female staff? Not so much.

Bullshit?

Ailes allegedly demanded oral sex from girls as young as 16 and according to Fox news anchor Megan Kelly, had made advances toward her multiple times in the past. It was common knowledge the he would make inappropriate comments and even ask women to twirl around so he could leer at them. Working at Fox had more in common with a Playboy Mansion pool party than a serious news organization. As for Carlson, her lawsuit claims she was fired for refusing to have sex with him.

Three days after she filed suit, six more women came forward.

Ailes vehemently denied the allegations describing them simply as:

“Bullshit.”

The existence of tapes says otherwise.

The Camera Doesn’t Lie

Carlson began secretly filming Ailes sometime early in 2014, and continued to tape him for the rest of the year. In one conversation Ailes could be heard saying:

“I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago, and then you’d be good and better and I’d be good and better. Sometimes problems are easier to solve that way.”

In another conversation Ailes was less direct, though no less creepy, telling Carlson that he was:

“Sure you could do sweet nothings when you want to.” 

Further details regarding the contents of Carlson’s secret recordings will probably have to wait until the lawsuit is concluded. Still, it is certainly looking like the rumored $40 million golden handshake Ailes received from Rupert Murdoch as a reward for two decades of lechery, might just have to be stored in some kind of contingency fund.

You know, just in case.

Watch Fox News anchors sleaze all over Gretchen Carlson:

Featured image from YouTube video.

I'm a full- time, somewhat unwilling resident of the planet Earth. I studied journalism at Murdoch University in West Australia and moved back to the UK where I taught politics and studied for a PhD. I've written a number of books on political philosophy that are mostly of interest to scholars. I'm also a seasoned travel writer so I get to stay in fancy hotels for free. I have a pet Lizard called Rousseau. We have only the most cursory of respect for one another.