WASHINGTON: A former producer at Fox News, Rachel Witlieb Bernstein, recently sued television host Bill O’Reilly and the network in federal court, alleging that the two violated a clause in their agreement that prohibited them from talking ill about her.
Bernstein is one of six known to have reached settlements after making sexual harassment accusations against Mr. O’Reilly, which ultimately led to O’Reilly’s firing from Fox News, reports the New York Times.
Bernstein also alleged that O’Reilly violated the non-disparagement clause of their 2002 confidential settlement, and added that he and the network portrayed her and other accusers as “liar and politically motivated extortionist”.
The ‘Killing Jesus: A History’ author has time and again claimed that the harassment allegations that led to his ouster from the Fox News in April have no merit while adding that he resolved the matters privately just to protect his children.
The lawsuit, which has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, states, “Mr. O’Reilly is the liar.”
As a result of the statements made by O’Reilly and the Fox News, Bernstein stated that she suffered reputational harm, emotional distress, physical sickness and loss of income, states the suit.
However, Fox News and O’Reilly have not responded so far.