Fox News Says Trump Has 'Extreme, Sick Obsession' With Megyn Kelly

WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Fox News is slamming GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump for his repeated Twitter tirades against anchor Megyn Kelly.

"Donald Trump's vitriolic attacks against Megyn Kelly and his extreme, sick obsession with her is beneath the dignity of a presidential candidate who wants to occupy the highest office in the land," the network said in a statement Friday evening.

The statement from spokeswoman Irena Briganti went on to praise Kelly as "an exemplary journalist and one of the leading anchors in America" and said the network will "continue to fully support her throughout every day of Trump's endless barrage of crude and sexist verbal assaults.'"

"As the mother of three young children, with a successful law career and the second highest rated show in cable news, it's especially deplorable for her to be repeatedly abused just for doing her job," it added.

During an August Republican debate hosted by Fox, Kelly asked Trump about some of his past remarks about women, prompting him to remark, "I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct."

Trump added: "Frankly what I say — and oftentimes, it's fun; its' kidding; we have a good time— what I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don't like it, I'm sorry. I've been very nice to you, although I probably could not be based on the way you've treated me, but I wouldn't do that."

Afterward, Trump lashed out at Kelly for her questions.

"She gets out and she starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions, and, you know, you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever," Trump said earlier.

Trump was defiant and dismissed the firestorm surrounding his rhetoric toward women, saying the "blood coming out" remark had nothing to do with menstruation.

Trump once again spoke out negatively about Kelly on Twitter early Friday.

Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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