Charles Payne Suspended As Fox Business Host Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations

Charles Payne, an employee of Fox Business since its inception, has been suspended from the network and his show Making Money while the network carries out an investigation into claims of sexual harassment against the host.

The allegation first came from a political analyst who claimed that the network blackballed her after it was revealed she was having an extramarital affair with Payne. The woman claims, through her lawyers who are filing suit against Fox and Payne, that she was coerced into the relationship thinking that it would land her a permeant position with the network, according to The Los Angeles Times.

In addition to the unidentified woman’s claims, Payne spoke with the National Enquirer, admitting that he engaged in an extramarital affair. While he used the opportunity to apologize to his wife and children, he described the relationship as “romantic,” and gave no hint that it was in any way harassment.

He took to Twitter to deny all allegations of harassment or wrong-doing.

“Days ago a reporter contacted me about (false) allegations and asked for a comment. I gave an immediate reply. He reported story w/out them … This was my reply: ‘That is an ugly lie I vehemently deny to my core. There is a mountain of proof that also proves its [sic] a lie,'” Payne wrote.

Payne’s show will remain off air until an investigation into the mater is completed. Beginning as a contributor to the network in 2007, Payne went on to host the show Making Money in 2014. The show has seen increasingly good ratings over the years.

“We take issues of this nature extremely seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy for any professional misconduct,” a Fox Business Network representative said in a statement. “This matter is being thoroughly investigated and we are taking all the appropriate steps to reach a resolution in a timely manner.”

The latest allegations of sexual harassment join a growing list of allegations made against Fox employees. Last July former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes – who died in May – was ousted after former Fox employee Gretchen Carlson filed suit against the network claiming she was sexually harassed by Ailes. After Carlson’s allegations, many other women came forward to corroborate her claims against media giant.

Former The O’Reilly Factor host Bill O’Reilly was dropped from the network earlier this year after sexual harassment claims and the revelation that the network had paid off several women over the years with claims against him made headlines.

In addition, Jamie Horowitz, a Fox Sports executive, was fired after The Los Angeles Times reported that he was being investigated by his own network for sexual harassment earlier this week.