Roger Ailes Used Fox Funds to Target Former Editor of Putnam County News and Recorder: Report

Roger Ailes hired consultants and political operatives to go after his enemies, using Fox News funds and stationing them in the "Black Room" at Fox News headquarters in New York City, according to a report in New York magazine.

One of the people targeted was Joe Lindsley, once editor of The Putnam County News & Recorder, according to the magazine. Ailes' wife Elizabeth is the owner and publisher of the newspaper. Lindsley argued with the Aileses and left the paper in 2011. According to the magazine, Ailes had private investigators follow Lindsley around Putnam County, asked a colleague at Fox for a report on Lindsley, and had one of the consultants on the Black Room payroll post negative comments about Lindsley online.

It was one small part of operations now under scrutiny by Fox News executives since Ailes left, Gabriel Sherman writes in New York magazine. Ailes' attorney Susan Estrich told the magazine: “These allegations are totally false.”

Read the entire New York magazine article here.

Ailes resigned his position as chairman and acting CEO of Fox News July 21, following claims he sexually harassed female anchors, including Gretchen Carlson, who filed a lawsuit alleging he made sexual advances toward her and didn't renew her contract after she refused them. His resignation ended his reign as one of the most powerful and influential figures in the news media.

Ailes, who lives in Garrison, just withdrew his promised donation of $500,000 and plan to build a new senior center in Philipstown after criticism mounted and lawmakers delayed.

The government had given him permissions most builders don't get, but he said the process was just too slow and contentious.

SEE: Roger Ailes Withdraws $500,000 Donation from Putnam Senior Center