Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros filed a lawsuit that accuses former network chief Roger Ailes of sexually harassing her and alleges that his associates subsequently intimidated her and harmed her career.

Ms. Tantaros said in the suit, filed Monday in New York State Supreme Court, that after she rebuffed Mr. Ailes's advances, she was removed as a co-host of "The Five," a weekday program, and moved to a less prestigious program with fewer viewers.

Ms. Tantaros alleged that Mr. Ailes's "actions were condoned by his most senior lieutenants, who engaged in a concerted effort to silence Tantaros by threats, humiliation, and retaliation."

Defendants include Fox News, Mr. Ailes and William Shine, who earlier this month was promoted to co-president of Fox News. At the time of his promotion, Mr. Shine was senior executive vice president of programming for Fox News and Fox Business.

A spokeswoman for Fox News said the cable news network can't comment on pending litigation, and attempts to reach Mr. Ailes and Mr. Shine were unsuccessful.

Ms. Tantaros's lawsuit follows a suit filed in July by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson against Mr. Ailes that alleged Ms. Carlson's contract wasn't renewed after she rejected his advances. Mr. Ailes has denied the allegations. He subsequently resigned last month and received an exit package valued at more than $40 million.

Other women also have come forward and told investigators hired by Fox that they were harassed by Mr. Ailes, people familiar with the situation have said. He also has denied those allegations.

Fox News-parent 21st Century Fox Inc. and News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal and HarperCollins Publishers, each count the Murdoch family as a major shareholder. Rupert Murdoch is executive chairman of both companies and became acting chief executive of Fox News after Mr. Ailes resigned July 21.

According to the suit, Fox News told Ms. Tantaros that she was removed from her program because she had violated company guidelines by failing to disclose a coming book she had written, "Tied Up in Knots," which was published this year by HarperCollins. Ms. Tantaros said she provided Fox News with adequate information about the book.

In her lawsuit, Ms. Tantaros said "Fox News masquerades as defender of traditional values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny."

The suit also alleged she was the target of nasty comments online from fake accounts "operated by Fox News's media relations department designed to make it appear that they were maintained by persons unrelated to Fox News."

Ms. Tantaros alleged that during a meeting with Mr. Shine in the spring of 2015, she asked for "relief from Ailes's harassment" and that Mr. Shine responded by describing Mr. Ailes as a "very powerful man" and that Ms. Tantaros "needed to let this one go."

Before the lawsuit was filed and in response to a magazine story earlier this month detailing Ms. Tantaros's allegations, Mr. Shine—through a Fox News representative—said Ms. Tantaros had not made any complaints about Mr. Ailes sexually harassing her.

The other defendants in Ms. Tantaros's suit are Dianne Brandi, the chief in-house lawyer for Fox News; Irena Briganti, the network's top communications executive; and Suzanne Scott, head of programming. Attempts to reach those other defendants also were unsuccessful.

Ms. Tantaros is seeking millions of dollars in damages from Fox News and the other defendants.

Write to Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg at jeffrey.trachtenberg@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 23, 2016 14:45 ET (18:45 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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