Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown named in Fox News sexual harassment lawsuit

Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros said in a lawsuit filed Monday that she was sexually harassed by former network chief Roger Ailes and other top executives — including former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown.

Tantaros said in the lawsuit that Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the Senate from 2010 to 2013, "made a number of sexually inappropriate comments," to her when he appeared on her show "Outnumbered," on Aug. 18, 2015,

"I have no knowledge of what she's referring to. None," Brown told WFXT. "I think she's trying to add credibility to her complaint against the higher-ups, showing a pattern — supposedly — of behavior there."

Among other things, Tantaros claimed  Brown "put his hands on her lower waist" in the cafeteria, an allegation Brown denies.

"No, I've never touched her around her waist in a lunch line. Why would I do that?" Brown said.

Tantaros said she complained to a Fox News programming executive, but nothing was done about the reports and Brown continued to be booked on her show.

She said her job "devolved into a nightmare of sexual harassment" in the summer of 2014.

The lawsuit alleges that Brown told Tantaros she "would be fun to go to a nightclub with," and Fox News "operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency, and misogyny."

"When I go to Fox, I treat everybody, whether it's the person at the elevator, the makeup artist, male or female, the same. I treat them with respect," Brown said.

Fox News didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.

"I feel badly for her, and I feel badly for people like me and others that are being brought into this," Brown said.

Tantaros first went public with her allegations last winter. At that time, the network said she made up the claims because she breached her contract after writing a book without getting network clearance.

Ailes resigned in July after former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson charged in a lawsuit that she was fired because she refused his sexual advances. He's denied the allegations.

Brown sent a statement Tuesday morning WFXT, which said:

<em>In the 3 years I gave been working there, I treat all people there the same, whether they be male or female.</em>

<em>If I am asked to make a witness statement of some sort, I look forward to that opportunity.</em>

<em>In addition, I don't go to clubs. Not how I speak. In would suggest you view the shows. There were never any issues that I was aware of and my schedule never changed. In fact, I have worked more this year than any other year.</em>

You can read the full complaint below as obtained by ThinkProgress.

Tantaros Complaint by Judd Legum on Scribd

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