Politics & Government
Andrea Tantaros Names Scott Brown in Fox News Sexual Harassment Suit
The former Massachusetts senator responded publicly this afternoon.
Former Fox News broadcaster Andrea Tantaros has named former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown in her lawsuit's lengthy enumeration of sexual harassment allegations against the broadcasting company, former CEO Roger Ailes and other Fox executives.
Brown in no uncertain terms denied the story recounted in Tantaros' lawsuit. He publicly called the allegations "fabrications" incompatible with both his personality and his own history as a sexual assault survivor. Tantaros' suit alleges Brown "suggestively" made remarks to and inappropriately touched her after his appearance on a show she co-hosted in 2015, illustrating what she believes to be Fox executives' pattern of ineffective response.
The lawsuit filed in New York Supreme Court states in part, "Fox News masquerades as defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency, and misogyny."
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Former Fox News broadcaster Gretchen Carlson also sued Ailes for sexual harassment earlier this year. Ailes, who has denied the allegations, resigned shortly thereafter.
According to an excerpt from Tantaros' shared by The Boston Globe's Matt Viser, Tantaros alleges that Brown inappropriately touched her after appearing on "Outnumbered," on or around Aug. 18, 2015.
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Tantaros was one of multiple hosts of the show, which bills itself as "featuring an ensemble of four female panelists and #OneLuckyGuy," who "tackle top headlines from all angles and perspectives."
The allegations read:
"Brown made a number of sexually inappropriate comments to Tantaros on set, including, and in a suggestive manner, that Tantaros 'would be fun to go to a nightclub with.' After the show was over, Brown snuck up behind Tantaros and put his hands on her lower waist. She immediately pulled back, telling Brown to, 'Stop.'"
According to the lawsuit, Tantaros complained to then-senior news executive Bill Shine and asked that Brown not be booked for the show again. Shine, who is one of the co-defendants in the case, allegedly told her he would speak with Brown, then "ignored Tantaros' complaint, and continued to book Brown on Outnumbered." Shine was named co-president after Ailes' departure.
Brown, a frequent Fox News guest and contributor, tweeted on Aug. 18, 2015:
Looking forward to co-hosting @OutnumberedFNC today at noon. Some great topics and always a lot of fun. #nhpolitics
— Scott P. Brown (@SenScottBrown) August 18, 2015
He returned to the show shortly thereafter, on Dec. 29, according to his Twitter history. An embedded photo shows Tantaros was not one of the hosts on that date. He reprised his role as the conservative news program's "One Lucky Guy" again this March, according to his Twitter history.
Brown told Politico Tuesday morning the allegations are “completely and totally false.” He later released statements to multiple news outlets calling the allegations false, before posting publicly on Twitter that afternoon:
As a survivor of sexual abuse, I would never perpetuate language or actions as described in FOX complaint. Actions referenced are fabricated
— Scott P. Brown (@SenScottBrown) August 23, 2016
Brown appears to be referring to incidents described in his 2011 autobiography, Against All Odds, in which he recounts his own sexual abuse at age 10 by a summer camp counselor.
It is not the first time Brown has been accused of misconduct, as one Patch reader emailed to remind us.
Shortly after his election as state representative in 2000, Brown was the subject of a brief-lived and, at best, convoluted defamation suit filed by a former fellow Wrentham Board of Selectmen member. The selectwoman's suit was withdrawn without prejudice in a matter of days, according to The Sun-Chronicle, after her legal representative dropped the case, believing the allegations to be unsubstantiated.
You can watch Brown's appearance in the first part of the Aug. 18 program below:
>> Photo by Michael Vadon, via Flickr/Creative Commons
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