A recent ruling in a sexual assault lawsuit has shocked many, as a federal judge dismissed the case brought against Fox News concerning allegations made by former employee Jennifer Eckhart.
The case centers on claims made against Ed Henry, a former Fox News anchor, and the network’s alleged failure to act on accusations of misconduct.
Jennifer Eckhart’s Allegations Against Ed Henry and Fox News
Jennifer Eckhart, a former associate producer at Fox News, filed the lawsuit in 2020, accusing Henry of raping her and sharing explicit “revenge porn” images without her consent.
Eckhart also alleged that her firing from the network was retaliation for her complaints about Henry’s actions.
According to Eckhart, Fox News failed to take any meaningful action when she reported the alleged assault.
Judge Rules in Favor of Fox News
In a significant ruling this week, Judge Ronnie Abrams from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York sided with Fox News.
The judge found that the network did not act improperly in firing Eckhart.
“There is no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry’s alleged harassment of Eckhart before her firing,” Abrams explained.
This decision followed Fox News’s argument that Eckhart did not raise her complaints about Henry until after her termination, and thus, her firing was not a result of retaliation.
Fox News Responds to the Decision
Fox News expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, issuing a statement that reaffirmed the network’s stance.
They highlighted that after Eckhart’s allegations came to light in 2020, they launched an independent investigation, which led to Henry’s termination within days.
“Discovery confirmed that Fox News was not aware of the relationship or allegations until after Eckhart left the company,” the network said in its statement.
Eckhart Vows to Continue Her Fight
Despite the court’s ruling, Eckhart remains determined to bring her case against Henry to trial.
She plans to appeal the decision regarding Fox News and expressed her intention to take her allegations to a jury.
“This fight is bigger than me,” Eckhart said.
She views the appeal as a step toward challenging corporate cultures that enable abuse and silence survivors.
She emphasized that no corporation should be allowed to protect perpetrators while punishing those who speak out.
The Legal Battle Ahead for Ed Henry
While the judge dismissed the revenge porn claim against Henry, he still faces serious accusations, including assault, battery, sex trafficking, and harassment, which will proceed to trial.
Eckhart accuses Henry of handcuffing, beating, and raping her, while Henry has denied the allegations, claiming their relationship was consensual.
Henry also rejected the revenge porn accusations, stating that many of the images in question were not of Eckhart.
Fox News Responds to Eckhart’s Claims
Fox News has maintained that Eckhart’s firing was due to her “substantial performance deficiencies,” a claim Eckhart’s attorneys dispute.
According to the network, Eckhart was placed on a “performance improvement plan” and was fired in June 2020, two weeks before she came forward with her allegations.
However, Eckhart’s legal team argues that there are disputes about whether her performance was genuinely subpar.
Trial Date Set for May 12
The legal proceedings against Henry are far from over, with the trial scheduled to begin on May 12.
The case will focus on the claims of assault, battery, and harassment, as well as the ongoing debate about whether Fox News acted appropriately in handling Eckhart’s termination and subsequent allegations.
In a parallel case, Henry’s own defamation lawsuit against Fox News was dismissed by the same judge in 2022, underscoring the ongoing legal entanglements between the network and its former anchor.
The outcome of this upcoming trial will likely have significant implications for both Henry and the network.