On July 6 , 2016 , former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes . Carlson alleged that she had been fired for rebuffing Ailes ' advances . Ailes , through his attorney , Susan Estrich , denied the charges . Three days later , Gabriel Sherman reported accounts from six women ( two publicly and four anonymously ) who alleged sexual harassment by Ailes . In response , Ailes ' counsel released a statement : " It has become obvious that Ms. Carlson and her lawyer are desperately attempting to litigate this in the press because they have no legal case to argue . The latest allegations , all 30 to 50 years old , are false . " Ten days later , '' New York '' magazine reported that an internal review into Carlson 's claims had expanded into a broader review of Ailes 's stewardship . It also claimed Rupert Murdoch and his sons , Lachlan and James , had seen enough information in the preliminary review to conclude that Ailes had to go . They disagreed on the timing , however ; James wanted Ailes out immediately , while Rupert and Lachlan wanted to wait until after the Republican National Convention . On July 19 , '' New York '' reported that Megyn Kelly told investigators Ailes made " unwanted sexual advances toward her " at the start of her career . The magazine also reported that the Murdochs had given Ailes an ultimatum — resign by August 1 or be fired
Republican National Convention
2016 Republican National Convention
Roger Ailes