Barry Ritholtz: Fox News Boss Roger Ailes 'to Be Indicted Soon'

Fox News President Roger Ailes May Be Indicted for Obstruction of Justice

According to Wall Street journalist Barry Ritholtz, Fox News boss Roger Ailes (who packaged Richard Nixon and both Bushes for public consumption) may be indicted for obstruction of justice. The whole scandal began when News Corp. exec Judith Regan claimed that Ailes told her to lie to the FBI about an affair she was having with Bernard Kerik, who was being vetted for the top spot at the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security. 

Bernard Kerik worked for Rudolph Giuliani, then Mayor of New York, thrust into the national spotlight in the days after 9/11 because nobody knew where the President was. Roger Ailes is a buddy of Rudy Giuliani, who at the time was being groomed for a White House bid. That didn't work out too well.

Judith Regan had settled out of court with News Corp. over a wrongful termination suit for $10 million, but signed a nondisclosure agreement in the process.

Roger Ailes: Caught on Tape?

However, there may be a tape of Roger Ailes telling Judith Regan to lie about her affair with Bernard Kerik. The purported existence of the tape emerged as part of a whole separate lawsuit between Regan and her ex-lawyers, but Politics Daily describes it as "Ailes' blue dress". Ew. 

Strangely, News Corp. has yet to deny the tape's existence, or to unequivocally defend Ailes. Some friends.

Barry Ritholtz' source? Turns out it's some guy Ritholtz met at the airport in Barbados. Barbados Guy (not his real name) has apparently hired Roger Ailes for some high-price speaking engagement, but Ailes had to bail "for legal reasons".

Oh, and Kerik never did get the gig. He's in jail for tax fraud.