Ed Henry


Edward "Ed" Henry is an American journalist. Henry was the co-host of America's Newsroom on the Fox News Channel, along with Sandra Smith. On June 20, 2011, he left CNN, to become the Fox News White House Correspondent. On July 1, 2020, he was terminated due to an allegation of sexual misconduct by a former employee, which he contests.

Early life and education

Henry was born in Queens, New York in 1971. Henry attended St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from Siena College in Loudonville, New York. He began his career with Jack Anderson.

Career

In 2003, he began providing political analysis for the WMAL Morning News and The Chris Core Show, two local radio shows on WMAL, Washington, D.C.
He covered Capitol Hill for Roll Call for eight years, writing that newspaper’s "Heard on the Hill" column, and has been a contributing editor at Washingtonian. He was a 2011–12 member of the board of associate trustees at Siena College, his alma mater.

CNN

Henry was the moderator of the CNN Inside Politics broadcast when Robert Novak stormed off the set, on August 4, 2005, during a live discussion with James Carville, about Florida Republican Representative Katherine Harris' just-announced 2006 bid for U.S. Senate. Henry carried on with just Carville for the remainder of the segment.
After covering the White House for CNN since March 2006, Henry became CNN's senior White House correspondent in December 2008.

Fox News

On June 20, 2011, it was announced that Henry was leaving CNN to become the Chief White House Correspondent for Fox News Channel. CNN insiders said that network management had already told Henry that his contract would not be renewed. In 2012, Henry said he had no regrets about leaving CNN. He has said that Fox News had been unfairly criticized by people in the news business.
At Fox he also worked as one of the hosts of Fox and Friends Weekend and as the chief national correspondent. He last worked as the co-host of the TV show America's Newsroom, along with Sandra Smith.
In February 2019, amid a North American cold wave, Henry cast doubt on the scientific consensus on climate change, claiming that "the left" was making up new terms, such as "extreme weather" and "climate change", to account for the cold spell.

Sexual Harassment and Rape Allegations

On June 25, 2020, Fox News suspended Henry following an allegation of sexual misconduct. After investigating the incident, the network fired Henry on July 1. In an internal memo announcing the firing, Fox News commented that the network "strictly prohibits sexual harassment, misconduct, and discrimination". Henry denied the allegation, and his lawyer said he remains confident of his eventual vindication.
A federal lawsuit alleged Henry raped a woman he had “groomed” and “coerced” into having a sexual relationship when she did not comply. The lawsuit, filed by Douglas Wigdor and Michael Willemin on behalf of Jennifer Eckhart and Cathy Areu, also alleges Fox News supported and promoted Henry after receiving complaints of sexually inappropriate behavior and only fired him earlier this month because they were aware of an impending lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges Henry sexually harassed both women and raped Eckhart.

Awards

Henry received the 2005 Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for Distinguished Reporting of Congress from the National Press Foundation. Henry provided breaking news coverage for CNN's America Votes 2004, as well as an exclusive March 2005 interview with Jeb Bush about the Florida governor's inability to intercede for Terri Schiavo. The NPF judges stated:
In 2008, the White House Correspondents' Association presented Henry with the Merriman Smith Award for presidential reporting under deadline pressure. Henry won for his February 14, 2007, news coverage of the Bush administration's irreconcilable assertions that Iranian officials were behind the authorization to send improvised explosive devices to Iraq. The panel of judges wrote that Henry's reports on CNN "got better with each ensuing update throughout the day".

Personal life

Henry lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Henry married Shirley Hung, a CNN senior producer, in June 2010 in Las Vegas. Among those attending at a Wynn Las Vegas chapel were Mike Emanuel of Fox News, Rao's co-owner, Frank Pellegrino, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. The wedding reception at Society Café Encore Las Vegas included a 22-layer chocolate wedding cake with whipped cream frosting, that was an elaborate replica of the White House, weighing 70 pounds. A pre-wedding dinner party at Rao's featured a performance by Human Nature, who had previously entertained the couple after their February engagement.
In 2019, Henry donated a part of his liver to save his sister, who had been dying from liver failure.

Affair

On May 4, 2016, according to a Fox News spokeswoman, Henry took a temporary leave of absence following an alleged extramarital affair with a Las Vegas hostess and stripper. The woman gave an interview with InTouch Weekly describing the alleged 10-month affair in detail. Henry subsequently lost his White House correspondent position and returned to Fox News in late August 2016 as chief national correspondent.