Fox News boss Roger Ailes given ultimatum

(Getty)
(Getty)

The Murdoch family has given Fox News chairman Roger Ailes a deadline of August 1 to resign, or be fired.

However Ailes has already been removed from the Fox News newsroom and moved to another building owned by the company.

Accusations against him have poured in by phone and email since former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson filed an explosive sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes two weeks ago.

More than 20 women have now accused Ailes of sexual harassment. Ailes has denied the charges.

Roger Ailes is considered one of the most powerful men in television, having built Fox News from the ground up over the last 20 years to become a dominant player in American politics.

The takedown of Ailes is being driven by Lachlan Murdoch - Rupert's son - who was pushed out of the News Corp team by Ailes 11 years ago.

The chairman is expected to pocket around $60 million as a "golden parachute" when he leaves.

Fox has hired the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to conduct an internal investigation.

Rupert Murdoch returns to New York next week - and it is believed that is when Ailes will exit the empire he built.

Newshub.