Federal Judge Delivers Stunning Ruling in Fox News Ed Henry Sexual Assault Lawsuit

New York, March 15, 2025 – A federal judge has dismissed Fox News from a high-profile sexual assault lawsuit filed by former producer Jennifer Eckhart against ex-anchor Ed Henry, marking a significant development in a case that has gripped media circles since its inception in 2020. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams issued the ruling on Wednesday, effectively clearing the network of liability in the allegations of sexual misconduct that led to Henry’s termination nearly five years ago.

Eckhart, a former associate producer at Fox Business Network, accused Henry of rape and claimed the network failed to intervene despite allegedly knowing of his predatory behavior. Her lawsuit, filed in July 2020, detailed a series of disturbing encounters, culminating in an alleged "violent rape" in February 2017 at a Manhattan hotel frequently used by Fox News for its staff. Henry, once a prominent co-anchor of America’s Newsroom, was fired shortly after Eckhart’s allegations surfaced, with Fox News citing “willful sexual misconduct in the workplace” based on an external investigation.

In her ruling, Judge Abrams concluded that no reasonable jury could hold Fox News accountable, stating, “There is no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry’s alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.” The decision hinged on the finding that the network only learned of Henry’s actions after Eckhart’s final encounter with him in 2017, undermining her claim that supervisors ignored a known risk. “Fox News did not know about any of them until after Eckhart and Henry’s final sexual encounter,” Abrams wrote, dismissing the network from the suit while allowing Eckhart’s claims against Henry to proceed to trial, scheduled for May 12.

Eckhart, who was terminated by Fox News in June 2020—two weeks before her public allegations—expressed mixed emotions about the ruling. “While I am grateful that the court has recognized the need for a jury to hear my claims against my rapist Ed Henry, this fight is bigger than me,” she said in a statement. Vowing to appeal the decision regarding Fox News, she framed her battle as a stand against a “corporate culture that continues to enable abuse, fear, intimidation, and silence.” Her legal team argues that the network’s inaction allowed Henry’s behavior to persist unchecked, a contention Abrams rejected due to lack of prior knowledge by management.

Henry, now an anchor at Newsmax, has steadfastly denied the accusations, asserting that all interactions with Eckhart were consensual. In court filings, he described their encounters as “rough sex” and claimed Eckhart pursued further contact, a narrative bolstered by sexually explicit text messages cited in the case. His legal battle with Eckhart will now move forward, focusing on charges of assault, battery, sex trafficking, and harassment, while Fox News breathes a sigh of relief at being extricated from the contentious litigation.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision, which speaks for itself,” a Fox News spokesperson said, declining further comment. The ruling comes as a vindication for the network, which faced intense scrutiny following Henry’s exit and weathered a separate defamation suit from the former anchor in 2022, also dismissed by Abrams.

Legal analysts note the decision underscores the high bar for proving corporate liability in workplace misconduct cases, requiring concrete evidence of prior awareness or negligence. For Eckhart, the fight continues, both against Henry and what she sees as systemic failures in media institutions. As the May trial looms, the case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing reckoning over power, accountability, and justice in the industry. 17GEN4.com