CNN's Stelter And Byers Report On Fox News Boss Roger Ailes' Looming Departure

Brian Stelter: “Tonight, There Are Exit Talks Underway ... That Will Result Most Likely In Ailes' Departure From Fox News”

From the July 19 edition of CNN's The Situation Room

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BRIAN STELTER: Yes, about two weeks ago, Gretchen Carlson, a former anchor at Fox News, sued Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. Ailes has denied the charges. But other women have come forward as well with similar stories and tonight there are exit talks underway between Roger Ailes and the Murdoch family, that will result most likely in Ailes' departure from Fox News. Wolf, we're talking about a network that Roger Ailes built from scratch 20 years ago], created into the massive cable news empire. Ailes is Fox and Fox is Ailes. So the significance of this story can't be understated. We're looking here at the Republican National Convention, and Fox is the favorite network of conservatives. This news will shock the delegates here in Cleveland, and shock Fox News viewers. But we should say, although there have been some reports online on the Drudge Report and elsewhere, Ailes has not officially left as of this minute, he's in his office, at Fox News, negotiating his exit.

DYLAN BYERS: And Wolf, just to bring you into the chaos of the news cycle right now, what you had is reports coming out from various news organizations that he was indeed out, that there was a separation agreement. People are starting to walk back some of those reports. As Brian said, Roger Ailes very much remains in his office at Fox News. So we'll have to wait and see exactly, when what's going to happen is going to happen. But like Brian said, we look at this convention behind us, we think that this is where the Republican Party sort of comes up with its agenda and its plan. For the past 20 years, one of the key places where the Republican Party has come up with its agenda and its plan has been Fox News, and the reason for that is Roger Ailes. His exit from -- it's hard to overstate just how significant his exit is.

STELTER: Fox is the virtual public square for the Republican Party and for the conservative movement in America and that is because of Roger Ailes. He was a GOP kingmaker for decades before creating Fox News. He is now under this weight of sexual harassment allegations. Most recently at noon today, New York magazine reported that Megyn Kelly, the 9 p.m. host, had accused him of sexual harassment while meeting with a law firm that's investigating these allegations. Today, tonight, Ailes is denying ever having sexually harassing Megyn Kelly. We have been trying to reach her and she has not commented yet. 

BLITZER: This is a dramatic moment indeed for the future of Fox News. And I know you've been looking ahead. Assuming he is gone, and we have not confirmed that he is gone, but assuming he is, what happens next? 

BYERS: Well that's the question. I have spoken with a number of television news executives, who sort of have a very vested interest in this of course. And what they've said, is look, there is no other Roger Ailes, there is only one Roger Ailes. He created this network. He turned it not just into a new media organization but a political organization, a political juggernaut. How do you bring someone in to fill those shoes? You can't. So look, what the Murdochs are doing now at 21st Century Fox, is they're thinking about who is within Fox News and especially who is outside of Fox News. They're looking at SKY, their broadcasting company over in England, but you have to imagine, how can you bring a Brit in to run an American political organization. 

Previously

UPDATED: Media Reporting That Roger Ailes Is Leaving Fox News

On CNN, Gabriel Sherman Reports That Fox Anchor Megyn Kelly Has Accused Roger Ailes Of Sexual Harassment

Report: Fox CEO Ailes Has Until August 1 To Resign Or Be Fired