Roger Ailes, the founder and long-time boss of Fox News Channel, has resigned after a number of female employees accused him of sexual harassment.
Ailes' resignation, effective immediately, was announced by the network's parent company, 21st Century Fox. Two weeks ago, Ailes was sued for sexual harassment by Gretchen Carlson, a former host of Fox & Friends, who left the company last month when her contract wasn't renewed.
Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the company's executive chairman, will run Fox News and its sister Fox Business Network, which Ailes also led, until a successor can be found.
The company statement made no mention of the lawsuit or its review of the allegations.
In her lawsuit, Carlson said her career was sabotaged after she refused Ailes' sexual advances. Ailes has denied all accusations.
A former consultant to Republican presidents, Ailes, 76, had been a key figure in the media empire and a longtime Murdoch ally.
Under his leadership, Fox became home to key conservative political commentators, drawing an audience distinct from rivals CNN and MSNBC.
