Former Rare Staff
Scottie Nell Hughes, a conservative commentator and former frequent face on the Fox News Channel, has sued the network. Hughes claims that she was raped by Fox News personality Charles Payne. Payne was taken off the air earlier in the summer while Fox News investigated Hughes’ initial claims against him. He was later put back on the air after Fox News completed their internal investigation.
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“In July of 2013, I was raped by Charles Payne,” Hughes said. “In July of 2017, I was raped again by Fox News. Since then, I have been living an absolute hell.”
Following the incident, Hughes maintains that she participated in a coerced sexual relationship with Mr. Payne in exchange for an increase in paid television appearances. Hughes claims that she was later told she was blacklisted from other jobs due to an “affair” she had “with someone at Fox.”
The lawsuit was filed against 21st Century Fox, Fox News Channel and Charles Payne.
Update, 8:30 p.m. Fox News Spokesperson responds.
“The latest publicity stunt of a lawsuit filed by Doug Wigdor has absolutely no merit and is downright shameful. We will vigorously defend this. It’s worth noting that Doug is Ms. Hughes’ third representative in the last six months to raise some variation of these claims which concern events from four years ago, since it apparently took some time to find someone willing to file this bogus case.”
