Kimberly Guilfoyle was ousted by Fox over '$4m payment' to female assistant who accused the host of stripping naked, showing her photos of men’s genitals and asking her to massage her thighs - and then offering her $1m in hush money
Kimberly Guilfoyle was secretly forced out of her role at Fox News over a '$4million' sexual harassment settlement with her female assistant, who claimed the host had exposed herself to her and showed her nude photos of men, according to a new report.
The 51-year-old Trump adviser abruptly left her role as the host of The Five in July 2018, several years before her contract expired, after 12 years at the network.
At the time, not much was said on her sudden departure except Guilfoyle maintained she chose to leave on her own terms to begin a new job at America First, a Trump super PAC.
The New Yorker on Thursday reported Guilfoyle was quietly pushed out after network executives received complaints accusing the host of sexually in appropriate behavior.
Trump adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle (pictured far left in 2017) abruptly left Fox News' The Five in 2018 after 12 years at the network
The 51-year-old, who has been dating Donald Trump Jr since 2018, is now running finances for the Trump Victory Committee
Guilfoyle (pictured right with former co-host Ainsley Earhardt) left Fox in 2018, several years before her contract expired, but had maintained her departure was voluntary
According to the report, Guilfoyle's female assistant had submitted a 42-page draft claiming her boss had frequently exhibited 'degrading' and 'abusive' behavior and at one point offered to buy her silence when she realized her job could be in jeopardy.
The woman, who was not named, had been hired as an assistant to Guilfoyle and former Fox News host Eric Bolling as a recent college graduate in 2015.
The complaint was kept out of court and ultimately resulted in Fox reaching a settlement 'upward of $4million' with the assistant after Guilfoyle's departure, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor who is dating the president's son, Donald Trump Jr, has since taken up a role with Trump administration, and was recently appointed to finance chair for the Trump Victory Committee.
She denied the allegations in a statement to the magazine.
'In my 30-year career working for the SF District Attorney's Office, the LA District Attorney's Office, in media and in politics, I have never engaged in any workplace misconduct of any kind. During my career, I have served as a mentor to countless women, with many of whom I remain exceptionally close to this day,' she said.
Kimberly Guilfoyle waves after speaking at a campaign event for President Trump at Xtreme Manufacturing on September 13 in Henderson, Nevada
The former Fox News host was trolled in August following her appearance at the RNC where she delivered a cheerleading speech that concluded with her shout of 'the best is yet to come' to an empty theater
Guilfoyle declined to comment when contacted by DailyMail.com.
According to the bombshell complaint, Guilfoyle had constantly spoken openly with her assistant about her sex life and would share photos of genitals of the men of with whom she was sleeping.
She also reportedly made the woman share hotel rooms with her while traveling and in New York, would require her to sleepover her apartment, which she described made her feel uncomfortable.
There, Guilfoyle would often undress herself in front of her employee and even asked her to 'critique her naked body', the report claims.
Those allegations were corroborated by a witness who told the magazine, Guilfoyle was 'provocative in a way that made you want to get away from this person.'
Another source confirmed claims that the former news presenter had shared photos of naked men, and one former Fox staff member told the magazine she had allegedly shown pornographic videos in the office.
The complaint further alleged that Guilfoyle, who was once married to California Governor Gavin Newsom, encouraged her assistant to sleep with rich and powerful men.
A former Fox colleague, who was not named, said her behavior had fostered an environment 'that was detrimental to young women.'
'It was worse than gross—it put other women at Fox in such a terrible position,' the source said.
Guilfoyle, a former prosecutor, was married for four years to California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom before their divorce in 2006
Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle walk across the tarmac to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base on Tuesday
Sources also repeated claims that Guilfoyle would speak graphically on sexual matters, which 'upset hair-and-makeup artists' at the studio who later filed a complaint against her.
The report states Guilfoyle's assistant had been working at Fox News at the time the network was being investigated for sexual misconduct amid allegations against former chairman Roger Ailes.
Guilfoyle had allegedly grown nervous that she would also be investigated over her behavior if her assistant spoke out against her to Paul, Weiss attorneys, who were conducting the probe.
The complaint alleges Guilfoyle had asked her what she would say if she was quizzed about sexual misconduct at the workplace and offered her hush money in exchange for her 'loyalty'.
She allegedly offered her payments as high as a million dollars, which would include money from Bolling, who had also been facing sexual misconduct allegations.
The woman was also offered trips to Rome on a private jet, a cut of Guilfoyle's pay from public speaking events and on-air roles, according to the report.
The assistant ultimately turned down the offer and went on to accuse both Guilfoyle and Bolling of sexual misconduct.
The New Yorker reports it spoke to multiple sources familiar with the complaint, as well as Guilfoyle's assistant herself, who declined to comment.
Meanwhile, sources close to Guilfoyle told the magazine the allegations were 'false' and 'inconsistent' with the Trump adviser's behavior.
'She always puts others ahead of herself and is unfailingly generous and ethical,' Trump Victory finance committee chief of staff Sergio Gor said.
Rumors about Guilfoyle's alleged termination from Fox first began to swirl after Huff Post reported three sources claimed she did not leave the cable news network 'voluntarily,' and that her team was busy working out the details of her separation package.
Sources close to both Guilfoyle and her boyfriend Donald Trump Jr denied those claims at the time, saying it was her choice to exit Fox News and begin a new job at America First.
Fox News had announced in a blunt and concise statement that Guilfoyle was no longer working for the network.
'Fox News has parted ways with Kimberly Guilfoyle,' the spokesperson said.
She did not appear on The Five the day her departure was announced and was not given the chance to say goodbye after 12 years with the network. She was replaced by Katie Pavlich.
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