Judge Dismisses Fox News from Eckhart Lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed Fox News from a lawsuit filed by former producer Jennifer Eckhart, who accused former anchor Ed Henry of sexual assault, as the court found no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's harassment before Eckhart's termination. Judge Ronnie Abrams ruled that Fox News was not aware of Henry's alleged misconduct until Eckhart reported it in 2020, after which the network swiftly terminated him. While the court dismissed claims against Fox News, it allowed the majority of Eckhart's case against Henry to proceed, including allegations of gender-motivated violence and harassment. Eckhart's lawsuit was part of broader allegations arising from the #MeToo movement, which had previously led to significant changes at Fox News in response to claims of pervasive sexual misconduct. Henry, now working with Newsmax, maintains that his relationship with Eckhart was consensual. A trial for the remaining claims is scheduled to begin on May 12.