21st Century Fox's takeover of Sky "should be blocked until allegations of sexual and racial harassment at Fox News have been resolved," a lawyer representing alleged victims in the U.S. said, according to Ruddick & Rushe of the London GUARDIAN. Doug Wigdor said that it was difficult for Ofcom to determine whether Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox was a "fit and proper" owner of Sky "without a full set of facts regarding the cases." He also called for 21st Century Fox to "lift gagging orders on victims of harassment and discrimination at Fox News who reached a settlement with the company over the last decade." Wigdor is representing 21 current and former Fox News employees. Ofcom is scheduled to make a recommendation to the government by June 20. The company revealed in its latest financial results on Wednesday that it had spent about $45M "in relation to sexual harassment litigation." Sources with knowledge of how Ofcom works said that "even if the regulator recommends that the deal go ahead by June, it could still change its stance on 21st Century Fox being a fit and proper owner if more information comes to light in the future." Ofcom declined to comment (GUARDIAN, 5/12).
