Former Fox News exec offered immunity in Ailes investigation: report

A former chief financial officer at Fox News was offered immunity by government lawyers as part of an investigation into former chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, according to The Financial Times.

The immunity deal was reportedly offered to Mark Kranz, who served as the network’s CFO from 2004 until last year, as part of an investigation into alleged payments made to women who accused Ailes of sexual harassment.

According to the report, authorities are investigating if the network misled investors by not disclosing financial settlements with other former employees of the network.

The Hill has reached out to Kranz and 21st Century Fox for comment. 

As CFO, Kranz was primarily responsible for preparing Fox News’s financial statements. 

Ailes was forced to resign from Fox News last year following an internal investigation into claims of sexual harassment by several women, including former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson. 

21st Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News, reached a legal settlement with Carlson for $20 million last September. 

“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,” 21st Century Fox said in a statement announcing the settlement.