Fox Settles Gretchen Carlson Lawsuit; Greta Van Susteren Leaves Fox News

21st Century Fox announced Tuesday morning that it had settled the lawsuit brought against it by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. Carlson had alleged widespread sexual harassment from former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, who eventually resigned after several other women at the network came forward with similar claims.

“During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism," a 21st Century Fox statement said. "She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans. We are proud that she was part of the Fox News team.

"We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve."

Fox also said Tuesday that longtime anchor Greta Van Susteren has left the network, effective immediately. Fox anchor Brit Hume will take over Van Susteren's nightly 7 p.m. show, "On The Record."

Ailes biographer Gabriel Sherman, reporting Tuesday in New York Magazine, said Van Susteren left the network because "she is troubled by the culture" Ailes built at the network. In a post on her Facebook page, Van Susteren said, "Fox has not felt like home for a few years," and she used a clause in her contract that allowed her to leave the network.

Van Susteren's husband, John P. Coale, told the New York Times, "There’s so much chaos" at Fox News, "it’s very hard to work there.” He added that “There’s more than meets the eye” and said there “might be litigation in the future."

Terms of Carlson's settlement settlement were not disclosed by 21st Century Fox, but Vanity Fair reported it would be around $20 million. An extensive cover story in New York Magazine written by Sherman that ran over the weekend reported that Carlson secretly recorded conversations between her and Ailes in Ailes' office.

SEE ALSO:

• Gretchen Carlson Of Fox News Sues Roger Ailes For Sexual Harassment
• More Women Come Forward Accusing Roger Ailes of Sexual Harassment
• Roger Ailes Resigns As Fox News Chairman

CNN reported later Tuesday afternoon that a "handful" of other women who had brought similar suits against 21st Century Fox had also reached settlements.

"I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace," Carlson said in a statement. "I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen. All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded.”

The reported settlement with Carlson would be just half of what Ailes, the media mogul who turned Fox News into the highest-rated news channel on cable, received when he left the network in July.

Ailes has denied the allegations made against him by Carlson and the other women.

Ailes has also hired attorney Charles J. Harder, who represented the wrestler Hulk Hogan in his lawsuit against Gawker Media that led to the company's bankruptcy and who is suing the Daily Mail on behalf of Melania Trump. Harder sent a threatening letter to New York Magazine and Sherman shortly after the cover story about Ailes was published.

"The letter sent by Harder was not informative as to the substance of their objections to the reporting," a spokeswoman for the magazine told CNN. "Sherman's work is and has been carefully reported."

Ailes, who worked as a media consultant for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, is advising Donald Trump as the GOP nominee prepares for the presidential debates.

Images: Gretchen Carlson, left, via U.S. Marine Corps; Greta Van Suteren, right, via Department of Defense