Yet another in a seemingly endless line of the Anthony Weiner “yuk” stories. Fox News has suspended Eric Bolling over accusations that the high-profile host text messaged lewd photos of male genitalia to three female colleagues. It's widely reported that unnamed sources have confirmed the pictures, and all recipients of the texts wish to remain anonymous. However, Caroline Heldman, a former Fox News contributor and liberal political science professor at Occidental College, detailed via Facebook her alleged personal experiences with Bolling, who is a husband and father of one:
He said he wanted to fly me out to New York for in-studio hits and to have “fun.” He asked me to have meals with him on several occasions, but I found excuses not to go. Once, he took me up to his office in New York, showed me his baseball jerseys, and in the brief time I was there, let me know that his office was his favorite place to have sex. I know other women have had similar experiences with Bolling.
On Sunday, Heldman posted once again to Facebook, explaining that she released statements concerning her time at Fox “to help another woman come forward.” Other women who Bolling is said to have sexted or made inappropriate marks to have yet to be identified.
As the allegations fly across the internet, Mr. Bolling’s attorney, Michael J. Bowe, asserted:
Mr. Bolling recalls no such inappropriate communications, does not believe he sent any such communications, and will vigorously pursue his legal remedies for any false and defamatory accusations that are made.
Bowe also sent a statement to NPR:
The anonymous, uncorroborated claims are untrue and terribly unfair. We intend to fully cooperate with the investigation so that it can be concluded and Eric can return to work as quickly as possible.
Allegations against the Fox News journalist surfaced during a time when many sexual harassment claims have recently rocked the network. Such charges have involved Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, prime-time newscaster Bill O’Reilly, among others. Sean Hannity also faced complaints last April from a former guest on his show, as reported by NBC News but that allegation was apparently not further pursued.
The scandal against Eric Bolling also arises just two months after Fox renewed a multi-year contract with the journalist, according to the Daily Caller. The fifty-four-year-old has been with the network since 2008, and his newest show, The Specialists, ranks in the top ten cable news programs with 1.9 million viewers. A Fox News spokesperson states that an investigation into the sexual harassment indictments is currently underway.
Whatever the upshot of this current Bolling situation, it should make a female think twice about working at Fox if indeed all these stories prove true. And it certainly would make a male think again about being employed by Fox should they prove false.
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