LONDON �� A former Fox News employee said the network blocked her from going to Moscow to investigate President Donald Trump's links with Russia, one of several claims of news bias at 21st Century Fox Inc. made by former and current workers opposing its takeover of Sky Plc.
"You can't do in-depth reporting if you're not there," said Jessica Golloher, a former Fox Radio correspondent who is suing the division for gender discrimination, at a gathering with U.K. lawmakers and citizens in Parliament Monday. "Fox didn't let me go to Moscow to dig into Trump's Russian connections, even when I offered to pay my own way.
"Fox is just buying what the White House is selling," she said.
Golloher's claim follows allegations this year that Trump colluded with Fox on a story to divert attention from his ties with Russia. She made the remarks shortly after meeting with the Competition & Markets Authority, which is investigating the Sky takeover on grounds of media plurality and whether Fox has a genuine commitment to broadcasting standards.
A Fox representative cited a Fox News statement from May without reference to Monday's hearing. In May, the company said Golloher's claims are baseless.
Golloher provided testimony to the CMA with her attorney Douglas Wigdor, who is representing 27 current and former Fox employees in a range of harassment and discrimination lawsuits against the company. Fox News anchor Kelly Wright also spoke at the meeting.
The three were joined in Parliament by former Roger Ailes protege Joe Lindsley, campaigners from online advocacy group Avaaz, and former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, who opposes the Sky deal.
Golloher also said she was marginalized at Fox News because of her gender and was fired this year shortly after reporting her concerns to Fox human resources.
