Latest news with #EdHenry
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Ed Henry's rape accuser Jennifer Eckhart arrested, accused of attacking her boyfriend
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart was arrested and accused of attacking her boyfriend for ending their relationship, according to a report. Eckhart, who recently settled a sexual assault lawsuit against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry, was booked by Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday on suspicion of battery. The podcaster 'struck, screamed, and became combative' toward Thomas Beasley after he tried to end the relationship, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail. According to the Mail, the affidavit said Beasley caught the alleged altercation on film, which showed Eckhart 'yelling, striking Beasley, grabbing his shirt and ripping it, and demanding he delete the video.' The 34-year-old was released on recognizance without having to post bail. Jennifer Eckhart was booked by Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Wednesday on suspicion of battery. (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office) The Independent has contacted Eckhart for comment. Eckhart is the host of the REINVITED podcast and runs a non-profit called The Reinvited Project, which aims to support trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy. On June 15, Eckhart settled her 2020 lawsuit against Henry, in which she accused him of rape. Henry, who was fired from Fox News in July 2020, denied the allegations. He now works for right-wing network NewsMax. In the lawsuit, Eckhart alleged that the former Fox News anchor 'groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced' her into a sexual relationship while referring to her as his personal 'sex slave.' Eventually, after she 'would not comply voluntarily' with his sexual demands, she claimed he violently raped her in 2017. In June Eckhart settled her 2020 lawsuit against Ed Henry, in which she accused him of rape. Henry, who was fired from Fox News in July 2020, denied the allegations. (Newsmax) Fox News was initially a defendant in Eckhart's lawsuit, as she claimed the network downplayed the severity of the risk Henry posed to female employees and retaliated against her by firing her in June 2020 after she complained about a hostile work environment. Prior to the settlement, Fox News was dismissed as a defendant from the case. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said there was 'no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.' Additionally, Abrams agreed with Fox's legal team that 'no reasonable jury' would find the network liable for preventing 'Henry from harming Eckhart.' 'This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives,' Henry's attorney said in a statement when the settlement was reached. Additional reporting by Justin Baragona
The Independent
19-07-2025
- The Independent
Ed Henry's rape accuser Jennifer Eckhart arrested, accused of attacking her boyfriend
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart was arrested and accused of attacking her boyfriend for ending their relationship, according to a report. Eckhart, who recently settled a sexual assault lawsuit against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry, was booked by Florida's Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday on suspicion of battery. The podcaster 'struck, screamed, and became combative' toward Thomas Beasley after he tried to end the relationship, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail. According to the Mail, the affidavit said Beasley caught the alleged altercation on film, which showed Eckhart 'yelling, striking Beasley, grabbing his shirt and ripping it, and demanding he delete the video.' The 34-year-old was released on recognizance without having to post bail. The Independent has contacted Eckhart for comment. Eckhart is the host of the REINVITED podcast and runs a non-profit called The Reinvited Project, which aims to support trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy. On June 15, Eckhart settled her 2020 lawsuit against Henry, in which she accused him of rape. Henry, who was fired from Fox News in July 2020, denied the allegations. He now works for right-wing network NewsMax. In the lawsuit, Eckhart alleged that the former Fox News anchor 'groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced' her into a sexual relationship while referring to her as his personal 'sex slave.' Eventually, after she 'would not comply voluntarily' with his sexual demands, she claimed he violently raped her in 2017. Fox News was initially a defendant in Eckhart's lawsuit, as she claimed the network downplayed the severity of the risk Henry posed to female employees and retaliated against her by firing her in June 2020 after she complained about a hostile work environment. Prior to the settlement, Fox News was dismissed as a defendant from the case. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said there was 'no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.' Additionally, Abrams agreed with Fox's legal team that 'no reasonable jury' would find the network liable for preventing 'Henry from harming Eckhart.' 'This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives,' Henry's attorney said in a statement when the settlement was reached.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Former Fox News host's rape accuser Jennifer Eckhart pouts in mugshot after being arrested for battery
A former Fox News executive producer who accused ex-anchor Ed Henry of rape was arrested on suspicion of battery in Florida. Jennifer Eckhart, 34, pouted in her mugshot after she was detained in Palm Beach County at 1pm on Wednesday afternoon. She was released on her own recognizance without bail. According to her arrest affidavit obtained by Daily Mail, Eckhart allegedly attacked her boyfriend, named in the papers as Thomas Beasley, after he told her he was ending their relationship. Beasley told cops that after he dumped her Eckhart, 'began knocking items over in his office, struck him, screamed, and became combative.' He showed video of the alleged attack to officers, which the documents said showed her, 'yelling, striking Beasley, grabbing his shirt and ripping it, and demanding he delete the video.' The arrest comes a month after Eckhart settled a rape lawsuit against Henry, five years after she accused him of sexually assaulting her when they worked at Fox News. Henry, who denied Eckhart's allegations and said they were in a 'kinky' relationship, was fired weeks before she filed her lawsuit in 2020. Eckhart alleged in the filings that she was 'violently raped while helpless and restrained in metal handcuffs.' In March, a federal judge threw out part of the lawsuit that named Fox News as a defendant, dismissing Eckhart's claims that the network failed to take any action against Henry's alleged rape. Eckhart also claimed that she was fired from Fox News in retaliation for her complaints about the alleged attack, and accused Henry of sharing explicit 'revenge porn' images of her. Following her settlement with Henry in June, Eckhart spoke of the mental toll that the case had on her, saying it had been an 'exhaustive, retraumatizing, five-year legal battle with incredible challenges that at times I almost felt was unable to bear'. Eckhart started her own podcast REINVENTED, where she speaks about 'generational trauma' to 'give a voice to the voiceless' in the wake of the process. She also runs a non-profit named The Reinvented Project, which helps trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy, per People. Henry, who now works at Newsmax after he was fired by Fox News, was never charged criminally over Eckhart's allegations. She was fired in June 2020, two weeks before she made allegations against Henry through an attorney, claiming his 'improper conduct' began around 2014 and culminated in an alleged rape in February 2017. Henry was subsequently fired after Eckhart came forward with her allegations, and Fox News announced his departure ' based on investigative findings' about his alleged 'willful sexual misconduct.' When she settled her lawsuit against Henry in June, Eckhart spoke of the mental toll that the case had on her, saying it had been an 'exhaustive, retraumatizing, five-year legal battle with incredible challenges that at times I almost felt was unable to bear' In a statement through his attorney after settling the lawsuit, Henry's representative said: 'This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives.' Eckhart said a civil trail was approaching before the settlement was agreed. The details of the settlement were not reported on at the time. In her lawsuit against Henry, Eckhart alleged that the anchor handcuffed, beat and raped her. But Henry insisted that they were in a consensual relationship at the time of the alleged attacks, and said that they were in a kinky affair that involved actions such as handcuffing. Daily Mail previously revealed the two were engaging in raunchy exchanges. This included text messages just days after Eckhart claimed the rape occurred, in which she told him: 'You wanna f*** me,' 'Come spread them and slide my bikini off', 'F***ing dirty boy. I love it,' and 'Want it. Badly,' according to screenshots of text messages in court filings. The legal filing said they had sadomasochistic, kinky sex on February 10, 2017, that was prompted by Eckhart's 'highly provocative sexting'. The physical encounter involved Henry hitting her with a belt, and restraining her with handcuffs. Although rough, Henry claimed it was all agreed on beforehand, saying she 'sent Ed a photograph of a belt' and told him in a text message that she would 'always obey and make myself available to u', adding 'You NEED my 26-year-old p***y.' The day before the sexual encounter, Henry texted Eckhart: 'Gentle little wh**e. Gonna get tossed around like a rag doll,' and she replied 'Love that,' according to the WhatsApp screenshots. Henry has been married to NPR Managing Editor Shirley Henry since 2010. Henry countered in a legal filing that Eckhart cherry-picked excerpts of their text conversations to cast him as a rapist when he claimed that it was instead a steamy, consensual affair. When a federal judge threw out Eckhart's claims against Fox News earlier this year, they ruled that there was 'no direct evidence that (the network) was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before (her firing) occurred.' Henry countered in a legal filing that Eckhart cherry-picked excerpts of their text conversations to cast him as a rapist when he claimed that it was instead a steamy, consensual affair Eckhart was an associate producer at Fox News, however her termination came as a result of 'substantial performance deficiencies', the network claimed. The network said she was fired after being put on a 'performance improvement plan', and her eventual dismissal came before she ever made complaints of her interactions with Henry. Fox News previously argued that when they fired Eckhart, it was not out of retaliation because she did not come forward with her claims against Henry until after she had been terminated. The network insisted it had 'legitimate, non-pretextual reasons for terminating her.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Woman Who Accused Ed Henry of Rape Settles Lawsuit Against Former Fox News Reporter: 'I Turned Pain into Purpose'
Following a grueling five-year legal battle, Jennifer Eckhart is hoping her work will help survivors of trauma reinvent their own lives. Court documents filed in the Southern District of New York on Sunday, June 15, obtained by PEOPLE, indicate that she settled her 2020 lawsuit against Ed Henry, in which she had accused the former Fox News reporter of rape. Eckhart, who formerly worked for Fox, claimed in the suit that Henry groomed her beginning when she was 24 before allegedly raping her when she worked at the network. She says a civil trial was finally approaching before the settlement was agreed. Related: Ed Henry Accused of Rape, Trying to Make Fox News Staffer His 'Sex Slave' in Lawsuit 'This has been an exhaustive, retraumatizing, five-year legal battle with incredible challenges that at times I almost felt was unable to bear,' Eckhart exclusively tells PEOPLE. 'With this settlement in place, a weight has now been lifted from my shoulders and my passion to support fellow trauma survivors has been renewed.' In her lawsuit, which was obtained by PEOPLE and named both Henry and Fox News as defendants, Eckhart alleged that she was 'violently raped while helpless and restrained in metal handcuffs.' Henry was fired by Fox News in July 2020, weeks before the lawsuit was filed. In an answer to the complaint, Henry denied raping Eckhart. He now works for Newsmax. In March, a federal judge dismissed Fox News as a defendant, though Eckhart says she is planning on appealing the dismissal. Following the settlement, Henry's attorney Gary Rosen provided a statement to PEOPLE. "This matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, and the parties are moving on with their lives,' Rosen said. Though the lawsuit has now been settled, Eckhart, says her work is not done, noting that she runs a non-profit, The Reinvented Project, which helps trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy. Eckhart worked for Fox for nearly a decade, working as a reporter and producer. She left the company following her lawsuit, which she said was done to bring accountability. She began hosting the podcast, REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, to 'give a voice to the voiceless,' and has previously featured interviews with high-profile guests like Billy Corgan, who spoke about 'generational trauma.' Related: Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan Discusses His Childhood Trauma with His Kids: I 'Dole It Out Where Appropriate' 'I turned pain into purpose,' Eckhart says. 'I think the overarching theme, as far as this case not going to trial, is that survivors do not require validation from a courtroom to emerge stronger than what tries to break them.' Eckhart is now seeking systemic change as her legal battle turns to her legal appeal of the network's dismissal from the lawsuit. For Eckhart, systemic change means more safeguards for media staffers who lodge 'good-faith complaints.' The lawsuit claimed that Fox News was aware that Henry had allegedly 'engaged in sexual misconduct' dating back to 2017, three years before he was ultimately fired on the precipice of Eckhart's eventual civil complaint. The judge overseeing the case ultimately ruled to dismiss Fox News as a defendant. 'This is a turning point in corporate America where we are putting standards on notice,' Eckhart says. 'Whether it be sweeping complaints under the rug or not taking better precautions and having better safety measures in place to protect their employees from situations such as the one that I suffered.' Eckhart says she is fighting to win her appeal and is intent on obtaining accountability. 'I'm not here for headlines,' she says. 'I'm here for justice.' If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to . Read the original article on People
The Independent
06-06-2025
- The Independent
Ex-Fox News star Ed Henry hit with restraining order by Jennifer Eckhart ahead of high-profile sexual assault trial
Jennifer Eckhart, a podcaster and former Fox Business producer who is suing Ed Henry for allegedly sexually assaulting her, filed an injunction for protection against stalking in a Florida court that was granted Wednesday against the former Fox News anchor just weeks before the civil case goes to trial. According to the injunction order, Henry is required to stay at least 500 feet away from Eckhart and her family. Additionally, he has to relinquish any and all firearms and other weapons. A detective for the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office attempted to serve Henry Thursday at the Boca Raton headquarters for Newsmax, the right-wing network where Henry currently works, but was told that he was currently at Newsmax's offices in New York City. Eckhart has since requested that the injunction be served at Henry's current location. 'The predator who once thought he owned me is about to face the woman who can't be broken—this time, in front of a jury,' Eckhart said in a statement to The Independent. 'Today, I was granted an Order of Protection—not just for myself, but for my family and loved ones being targeted through legal harassment. Survivors should never have to shield their families from the very system meant to protect them. Soon, he—and the institution that protected him—will be forced to reckon with the truth they tried to bury.' The restraining order, which was spurred by Henry's legal team issuing a subpoena to Eckhart's family to appear as witnesses for the defense in the New York-based trial, also included a bombshell claim by Eckhart that the FBI visited her last year to discuss potential allegations surrounding Henry. A lawyer for Henry did not respond to questions about the injunction that was granted this week. 'On May 13, 2024, Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation visited my residence as part of an active investigation into sex trafficking allegations against Respondent,' Eckhart wrote in an exhibit attached to the petition for injunction. According to documents and emails shared with The Independent, two special agents for the bureau's office in West Palm Beach, Florida, were in communication with Eckhart last year about Henry. 'We appreciate your time today and thank you for your patience,' FBI Special Agent Marisa Morris wrote Eckhart on May 13, 2024. 'A criminal case is different than a civil matter in that we will not be able to update you as often as a civil attorney would, and I realize that can be extremely frustrating.' Morris, who was responding to a message from Eckhart acknowledging the meeting earlier that day, added that 'we take these types of cases very seriously and will update you as much as possible through the process.' The agent concluded the email by telling Eckhart that 'we will review everything and follow up as appropriate.' In follow-up emails that Eckhart sent Morris and fellow Special Agent Gennady Julien, she summarized much of what had been detailed in her lawsuit, which accuses Henry of raping her and subjecting her to sex trafficking while both were employees at Fox. Henry has vehemently denied the allegations against him, claiming that he only engaged in consensual sex with Eckhart. Besides sharing publicly available exhibits that have been filed in her civil case, she also provided the names of other women who have filed sworn affidavits testifying that they've also been subjected to harassment and sexual assault by Henry. Morris would also acknowledge receipt of a June 25, 2024, email in which Eckhart shared a Mediaite article detailing a human resources complaint filed by a female staffer against Henry during his time at Real America's Voice, a fringe conservative news network. The unnamed staffer alleged to RAV that 'through a series of escalating comments, Henry established a 'grooming' relationship with her,' according to Mediaite. 'This article was just published today and brought to my attention about Ed Henry grooming another victim at his former workplace here in Palm Beach County,' Eckhart wrote, prompting Morris to respond: 'Received, thank you!' The Independent attempted to contact Agents Julien and Morris directly. A response from the Miami division's public affairs officer requesting that all questions regarding any communications with Eckhart be directed to him or the agents' supervisor. 'The FBI has strict procedures governing our employees' interaction with members of the news media,' the public affairs officer added. 'We are aware of your inquiry and interest in the FBI, but as a matter of policy, the FBI does not confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation except in rare circumstances where the public's assistance is requested,' Special Agent Willie Creech responded in a separate email to a series of questions related to Henry, echoing the bureau's standard response to media requests. The injunction against Henry, which was granted by a judge on Wednesday, was initially filed by Eckhart in response to a subpoena sent to her elderly mother, who also lives in South Florida. The subpoena, which demands Eckhart's mother to appear and testify on June 25 at the Manhattan courthouse where the civil trial is taking place, incorrectly cites Fox News as the defendant in the case – an error Eckhart cites in her petition for the injunction. 'The subpoena my mother received was issued under the misleading header 'Fox News,' despite the fact that this particular litigation is solely between myself and the Respondent, Ed Henry, in his individual and professional capacities,' the petition states. 'This created unnecessary fear and confusion, especially considering the traumatic context, and further demonstrates the coercive and intimidating nature of the Respondent's tactics.' While Fox News was initially a defendant in Eckhart's lawsuit, as she claimed the network downplayed the severity of the risk Henry posed to female employees and retaliated against her by firing her in June 2020 after she complained about a hostile work environment, Fox News was dismissed from the case in March. 'The caption for the case is Eckhart v. Fox News Network, LLC et al., 20-cv-5593,' Henry's attorney Eden Quainton told The Independent. 'Jennifer should have understood this because she has recently made filings herself with this caption. I encourage you to look up the case on PACER.' Quainton did not respond to additional questions regarding the granting of the injunction or the claims made by Eckhart about the FBI's visit. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams said there was 'no direct evidence that Fox News was aware of Henry's alleged harassment of Eckhart before it occurred.' Additionally, Abrams agreed with Fox's legal team that 'no reasonable jury' would find the network liable for preventing 'Henry from harming Eckhart.' 'We are pleased with the court's decision to dismiss FOX News from this case, which speaks for itself. Upon learning of Jennifer Eckhart's allegations in 2020, FOX News promptly conducted an investigation by an outside independent law firm and terminated Ed Henry within six days,' a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement. 'Discovery in this matter confirmed that FOX News was not aware of their relationship or of Ms. Eckhart's allegations until after she left the company. The only people who know what happened between Mr. Henry and Ms. Eckhart are the two of them.' Eckhart also reiterates many of the accusations she had raised in her lawsuit against Henry – such as claims that he sex trafficked and 'violently raped' her – to assert that Henry has a 'documented history of harassment, stalking and repeated threats to physically punish' her as part of an 'ongoing campaign of retaliation.' Additionally, she cites a pretrial motion filed by her lawyers on May 12, which sought to deny Henry's efforts to subpoena her mother and personal acquaintances, claiming it is 'purportedly because they will testify that Ms. Eckhart did not tell them that Mr. Henry raped her prior to her termination from FNN.' Eckhart's legal team argued that this was tantamount to 'harassment and intimidation' on Henry's part due to the 'risk of unfair prejudice.' '[T]he Respondent subpoenaed my elderly mother, who has zero involvement in my ongoing federal rape lawsuit, as a means of harassment and emotional manipulation,' the petition states. 'He has also made legal threats to subpoena my ex-boyfriends and best friends – individuals with no bearing on the case – as part of an apparent campaign to punish and isolate me.' Eckhart also argues in the petition for injunction that she lives in a 'constant state of anxiety and fear' for her personal and physical safety, adding that she's been 'diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the Respondent's past acts of rape and sex trafficking.' She adds that Henry's 'recent efforts to destabilize' her are 'inflicting deep psychological harm' and have impacted her ability to prepare for the trial. Other than lawful communication between her and Henry's legal counsels, the Florida court granted Eckhart's request that prohibits Henry from contacting her and her family, and keeps him at least 500 feet away from her except for during the upcoming legal proceedings in New York. According to the granted injunction, Henry and Eckhart will be scheduled to appear and testify before Judge Laura Burkhart on June 12 to discuss whether the court will make the injunction permanent. In her lawsuit against Henry, Eckhart alleges that the former Fox News anchor 'groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced' her into a sexual relationship while referring to her as his personal 'sex slave.' Eventually, after she 'would not comply voluntarily' with his sexual demands, she claims he violently raped her in 2017. In a motion filed last fall in the case, her attorney Michael Willemin laid out a series of new allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct against Henry, including accusations that he sexually assaulted a second woman during his time at Fox News. Following those revelations, current and former colleagues of Henry's told The Independent that they didn't understand how he was able to continue to find employment in the media industry. 'Ed Henry being in Florida has him out of sight, out of mind most of the time,' one Newsmax employee said at the time. 'However, after that most recent court filing, some people are wondering: how the hell does this guy have a job?' Meanwhile, a year after exiting Fox Business, Eckhart launched the interview podcast series Reinvented, which focuses on conversations with 'people who have overcome serious obstacles on their path to success.' She's sat down with multiple celebrities over the years, including a newsmaking interview with Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who revealed he discusses his childhood trauma with his young kids.
