Roger Ailes reportedly used Fox News cash to finance 'Black Room' ops against journalists


Journalist Gabriel Sherman was a thorn in deposed Fox News chief Roger Ailes' side, and Ailes used a secret News Corp–financed "Black Room" to organize a counterattack against him and other perceived enemies, Sherman reported in New York on Sunday, citing "a senior Fox source." The operation, housed on the quiet 14th floor of News Corp's Manhattan headquarters, came to light as Fox News executives started combing through the network's budget, Sherman reports, which Ailes reportedly controlled with little to no oversight, including to pay out millions of dollars in sexual harassment settlements.
Ailes' "Black Room" involved "consultants, political operatives, and private detectives who reported only to him," Sherman says, and Fox News has already dismissed "five consultants whom Ailes had hired to do work that was more about advancing his own agenda than Fox's." Among those fired was Bert Solivan, who reportedly "ran negative PR campaigns against Ailes' personal and political enemies out of Fox News headquarters."
The Ailes operation targeted not just Sherman but also Gawker's John Cook and Hamilton Nolan, and Joe Lindsley, former editor of the Putnam County News and Recorder, Ailes' local newspaper in New York's Hudson Valley. All of the targeted journalists were followed by private detectives, Sherman says, and operatives prepared reports aimed at discrediting the journalists. Ailes' attorney, Susan Estrich, said the "allegations are totally false." You can read more at New York.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Anshu Ahuja's golden coconut and butter bean curry recipe
The Week Recommends Plump, creamy beans in a sweet, spicy sauce
-
The treasure trove of platinum on the moon
Under the radar This kind of bounty could lead to commercial exploitation
-
Sudoku medium: June 23, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores