In Memoir, Megyn Kelly Alleges Harassment by Roger Ailes

Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly alleges in her new memoir that Roger Ailes, her former boss, sexually harassed her repeatedly and offered to boost her career in exchange for sexual favors.

Radar Online was the first to report the information, having obtained an advance copy of the book, Settle for More, scheduled to be released November 15.

Ailes resigned as chairman and CEO of Fox News this summer, after having been with the cable channel since its inception in 1996, amid allegations that he had sexually harassed Fox News host Gretchen Carlson and other female employees. In Settle for More, Kelly writes that Ailes pressured her to speak in his defense and had also harassed her.

In 2005, a few months after Kelly was hired as a reporter in the Fox News Washington, D.C., bureau, she was called to several meetings in Ailes's New York City office, she writes.

"Roger began pushing the limits," she writes in a passage quoted by Radar. "There was a pattern to his behavior. I would be called into Roger's office, he would shut the door, and over the next hour or two, he would engage in a kind of cat-and-mouse game with me -- veering between obviously inappropriate sexually charged comments (e.g. about the 'very sexy bras' I must have and how he'd like to see me in them) and legitimate professional advice."

She claims that Ailes offered to advance her career "in exchange for sexual favors," but she rejected "every single one," and he also tried "physical advances." In January 2006, she writes, he "crossed a new line -- trying to grab me repeatedly and kiss me on the lips." After she shoved him away, "he asked me an ominous question: 'When is your contract up?'" she says. "And then, for the third time, he tried to kiss me."

Kelly reported Ailes's conduct to a supervisor, and the harassment ended after six months, she writes. He never took revenge against her, and she moved up at Fox News. After Carlson and others made their allegations about Ailes, she decided to speak up, she says.

Kelly added the account of harassment to her memoir shortly before it went to press, according to Radar. Some media outlets reported earlier that Kelly had shared similar information during an internal investigation of the allegations against Ailes, but she has not given interviews on the subject.

Ailes has denied ever engaging in harassment, of Carlson, Kelly, or anyone else. He did not respond to Radar's request for comment, but a lawyer for Ailes sent this statement to The Huffington Post, which also covered the story: "This is what Ms. Kelly had to say about Roger Ailes only one year ago on the Charlie Rose program, 'I really care about Roger. And he has been nothing but good to me. And he's been very loyal. And he's had my back. And he's looked out for me.' Mr. Ailes denies her allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct of any kind."

Before heading Fox News, Ailes worked for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. In the current campaign he is supporting GOP nominee Donald Trump, whom he reportedly assisted with preparation for debates with Hillary Clinton. Trump and Kelly famously clashed at presidential debates during the Republican primary season, especially after she asked him about his record of misogynistic statements.