Fox News host Eric Bolling suspended by network over 'sex texts to female colleagues'

Fox News host Eric Bolling has been suspended while the scandal-hit network investigates claims he sent unsolicited sex texts to three female colleagues.

The news prompted a fourth woman, former Fox guest Caroline Heldman, to claim that Mr Bolling sexually harassed her and displayed “wildly inappropriate” behaviour towards her on several occasions between 2008-2011.

Mr Bolling’s programme Cashin’ In was pulled from the air on Saturday, after three women who worked at Fox News and Fox Business Network said he sent pictures of male genitals to them several years ago.

The women, who wish to remain anonymous, claimed they recognised his number when they received the “deeply upsetting” images after meeting him at work.

One of them said she replied to the married father-of-one and told him to never send her photos again, but he didn’t respond.

After the claims emerged, Ms Heldman said Mr Bolling, 54, subjected her to sexual harassment and gender discrimination when she appeared as a guest on Fox News and Fox Business.

The politics professor told her Facebook followers the suspended host used to call her “Dr McHottie” and once told her “his office is his favourite place to have sex”.

On Saturday, a Fox News spokesperson said Mr Bolling has been “suspended pending the results of an investigation, which is currently underway”.

He denies the allegations, and his attorney Michael Bowe told The Huffington Post he “will vigorously pursue his legal remedies for any false and defamatory accusations that are made”.

The investigation is being conducted by the law firm Paul Weiss, who dealt with previous sexual harassment scandals at Fox News involving former CEO Roger Ailes and former anchor Bill O’Reilly.

In July 2016 Mr Ailes resigned when former host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him.

Former Fox anchors Megyn Kelly and Andrea Tantaros also accused Mr Ailes, who died aged 77 in May, of sexual harassment following his shock departure.

Mr O’Reilly, once described as “the biggest star in the 20 year history at Fox News”, was forced to leave the network in April after The New York Times investigation revealed $13m had been spent to settle five sexual harassment lawsuits against him.

The HuffPost said they had spoken to 14 sources linked to Fox News and Fox Business to verify the claims about Mr Bolling, but all of them wanted to remain anonymous because they either work at the network or are at risk of breaching confidentiality agreements.

Four sources said they had seen the pictures sent to the three women, and eight people said the women had spoken to them about the messages from Mr Bolling.

The Fox spokesperson added: “We are investigating this matter and all claims will be taken into account.”

The former trader branded Anthony Weiner a “sick human being” after the disgraced New York congressman pleaded guilty to sending lewd messages to an underage girl in May.

He previously became embroiled in a Twitter spat with Mr Weiner when it emerged that the politician had sent several sex texts to women while he was still married.

Mr Bolling once likened a bombing campaign against Isis to having “boobs on the ground”, because it was lead by the United Arab Emirate’s first female fighter pilot.

The host, known for his aggressive support for Donald Trump, apologised for the comments on air in September 2014.

His Fox contract was extended in June, ending rumours that he would join the Trump administration as commerce secretary or as a senior adviser.

A spokesperson from Fox News said: "Eric Bolling has been suspended pending the results of an investigation, which is currently underway."

The network said they are "investigating this matter and all claims will be taken into account".