U.S.

Fox News fires Ed Henry after sexual misconduct allegation

Updated on: July 1, 2020 / 1:28 PM EDT / AP

Fox News on Wednesday fired daytime news anchor Ed Henry after an investigation of sexual misconduct in the workplace. The network said it had received a complaint on June 25 from an attorney about the misconduct.

An outside investigator was hired to look into the allegation. "Ed was suspended the same day and removed from his on-air responsibilities pending investigation. Based on investigative findings, Ed has been terminated," CEO Suzanne Scott and Fox News Media President Executive Editor Jay Wallace said in a statement.

Henry worked as a late morning news anchor on Fox, between the hours of 9 to 12 p.m.

He had slowly rehabilitated his career following a four-month leave of absence that ended in 2016, after there were published reports of an extramarital affair that he conducted with a Las Vegas cocktail waitress.

Fox offered no details of the complaint that resulted in Henry's firing, only to say that it happened "years ago."

The alleged victim is represented by noted sexual harassment attorney Douglas Wigdor. He also would not provide any details of the case.

Henry's former co-anchor, Sandra Smith, announced the firing on the air. Fox said she'll continue in her role with rotating co-anchors until a full-time replacement is hired.

Fox News Chief National Correspondent Ed Henry, left, appears with co-hosts Steve Doocy, second left, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade on the "Fox & Friends" television program, in New York on Sept. 6, 2019. Richard Drew / AP

Henry, a former White House correspondent for Fox, was only recently elevated to the role on "America's Newsroom." He got the job after Bill Hemmer moved to Shepard Smith's afternoon time slot.

In a memo to staff, Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace reminded employees of Fox's 2017 overhaul of its human resources operation and the avenues they can follow with a sexual harassment complaint.

Fox's late former chairman, Roger Ailes, was fired in 2016 following harassment allegations made by former anchor Gretchen Carlson. Prime-time anchor Bill O'Reilly lost his job a year later following the revelations of settlements reached with women who had complaints about his behavior.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had incorrect information about what time Ed Henry's show ends and what year he returned from his leave of absence. The story has been updated with the correct information.