Trump Takes Heat Over News He’s Hiring Ex-Fox News Exec Bill Shine As WH Comms Director
Prior to Wednesday’s news cycle being completely overtaken by the announcement that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy was retiring, giving President Trump a second justice on the bench, reporters and journalists were a bit gobsmacked over reports that the White House was in “final talks” with former Fox News executive Bill Shine to be the new communications director.
Per the New York Times, Shine was expected to be offered the job in short order. Politico noted that he was “close to being tapped” to fill the spot that was last formally held by Hope Hicks, who departed in March. Fox News’ John Roberts said the announcement should be coming soon.
Obviously, what has caused a lot of eyebrows to be raised over this potential move is the fact that Shine, a protege of Roger Ailes, was pushed out as Fox News co-president over his handling of sexual harassment claims. Shine’s ouster occurred just weeks after star Bill O’Reilly was forced out over revelations he had settled multiple allegations for millions of dollars.
According to the NYT report, folks at the White House are “aware that they will face blowback for appointing someone so closely tied to Mr. Ailes and the culture of harassment toward women at Fox News. But they said Wednesday that they believe they can weather it.”
Journalist Yashar Ali stated that Shine “enables and covered up Roger Ailes sexual misconduct” as well as other Fox News talent.
For years, as co-president of Fox News, Bill Shine enabled and covered up Roger Ailes sexual misconduct…as well as the misconduct of other executives and Fox News talent. Now he's set to become White House Communications Director. https://t.co/lXqnL7CJDf
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) June 27, 2018
The NYT’s Emily Steel noted the same thing:
Bill Shine was ousted last year amid the sexual harassment scandal at Fox News. He now is expected to be offered the job of White House communications director @maggieNYT + @shearm https://t.co/vqkhmKvbt6
— Emily Steel (@emilysteel) June 27, 2018
Liberal media watchdog Media Matters pointed out that Shine left Fox News after he was “cited in multiple lawsuits” that he ignored or covered up allegations made towards Ailes:
Bill Shine resigned from Fox after reports surfaced that he was cited in multiple lawsuits that accused him of ignoring, dismissing, and concealing sexual harassment allegations against Roger Ailes https://t.co/FeznDZre2V
— Media Matters (@mmfa) June 27, 2018
Below are other observations made by folks in the media:
Bill Shine, the man who was pushed out of Fox News for covering up the sexual harassment scandals there, is expected to become WH comms director https://t.co/8SeTq5ODr5
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) June 27, 2018
Forced out of Fox “news” is perfectly on brand for Trumpism. https://t.co/rv4hkss7Ok
— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) June 27, 2018
Bill Shine has been named in at least four lawsuits alleging sexual harassment or racial discrimination by Fox News and some of its biggest stars. A black anchor also accused him of making insensitive comments to her. https://t.co/lL8ycn0weo
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) June 27, 2018
Let ANY DEMOCRAT who even THINKS mean thoughts about ANY REPUBLICAN live in SHAME. What WE HAVE BECOME? The nation WEEPS at your LACK OF CIVILITY.
Oh also the guy who papered over dozens of sexual assaults at FOX is now running the White House Comms Dept. https://t.co/3DOvPrwHpR
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) June 27, 2018
Reminder: Probable new WH coms director Bill Shine was fired from Fox News over allegations that he enabled the sexual predators there, including using his position to to “intimidate, terrorize and crush” their victims. In other words, he’ll fit right in. https://t.co/AIKzMltprC
— ana marie cox (@anamariecox) June 27, 2018
There was on person, however, who was a big fan of Shine possibly being the new White House communications director.
If Bill Shine gets the job of White House communications director, that will be good for the country. Shine is smart and honest. But the President has to listen to him!
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) June 27, 2018
[Image via ABC News]
