Charles Payne is returning to Fox Business Network on Friday following an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against the anchor, the cable channel confirmed to TheWrap.
No details on the actual results of the investigation were made available, though Payne’s return seems to signify that the findings were in his favor.
The claims against Payne came from a female political analyst who was a frequent guest on his program, “Making Money,” among other Fox shows. She claimed to have been “coerced” into a sexual relationship with the married man.
For his part, Payne has admitted to having an affair with his accuser — but he’s strongly denied harassing the woman in question. The regular guest says her appearances and on-air opportunities were cut after her relationship with Payne ended in 2015.
The Los Angeles Times first reported the news of Payne’s return. Payne, who has been off the air since his suspension started on July 6, signed a long-term contract extension in June.
Payne joined Fox Business Network in 2006.
Payne’s saga had been one of the latest in a series of like events that have rocked Fox.
In April, Fox News cut ties with “The O’Reilly Factor’ host Bill O’Reilly amid allegations of sexual harassment against O’Reilly, while last year founding Fox News CEO Roger Ailes stepped down in disgrace last summer after he faced his own accusations of sexual harassment, first by a former on-air host and then by additional female employees who came forward with similar allegations.
Days before Payne’s suspension, it was announced that Fox Sports National Networks president Jamie Horowitz was exiting amid claims of misconduct, which Horowitz denied. A month later, Eric Bolling was benched for reportedly sending unsolicited, lewd text messages to female colleagues.