Fox Business Network host Charles Payne will return to his early-evening perch at the outlet following an investigation into claims of sexual harassment, the network confirmed Friday.
The latest development in a series of personnel issues that have plagued the Fox News operations owned by 21st Century Fox was previously reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Payne is expected to return to hosting the program “Making Money” this evening, the network said in a statement.
Payne was suspended in June after a female political analyst who had made regular appearances on Fox News and CNN contacted the law firm of Paul Weiss, which has been working for Fox for several months, and alleged she was banned from Fox after ending an extramarital affair she had with the anchor in 2015. The analyst alleged her Fox appearances were reduced after she terminated the relationship.
At the time, Payne denied the allegations and said he would fight to clear his name.
Both Payne and Fox News host Eric Bolling had been under suspension in recent weeks. The staus of a probe into harassment allegations levied against Bolling could not be immediately learned. Bolling has denied the accusations.
21st Century Fox remains under scrutiny as it strives to acquire the remaining shares in European broadcaster Sky PLC that it does not own and its bid is examined by British government regulators. Proving that the company has taken steps to improve a working culture that had been rife with claims of harassment wouid serve to curtail criticism as its effort to buy Sky progresses. In recent months, the parent company has parted ways with former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, primetime host Bill O’Reilly and Fox Sports programming chief Jamie Horowitz, all of whom had been accused of sexual harassment. All three men denied the charges or aspects of them.