The Latest: Roger Ailes died of bleeding on the brain

The Associated Press
The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the death of media guru and political strategist Roger Ailes (all times local):

4:49 P.M.

Authorities in Florida are saying Roger Ailes died of bleeding on the brain caused by an earlier fall at home.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office says the Fox News Channel founder died of a subdural hematoma — or bleeding on the brain — caused by the fall. The death has been ruled accidental and there was no evidence of foul play.

According to a Palm Beach police report, a caller contacted 911 dispatchers just before 2 p.m. on May 10, saying Ailes had fallen in his bathroom, hit his head and had serious bleeding.

4:17 p.m.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is adding his voice to those mourning Fox News Channel founder Roger Ailes.

“In the years I worked with Ailes he was a great mentor, deeply patriotic, committed to Fox News and really worried about America,” Gingrich, a Republican, wrote on Twitter.

“Roger Ailes was a genius at politics and the news media. His advice to Presidents Nixon and Reagan was historic and helped elect both.”

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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2:14 p.m.

David Axelrod, a longtime political adviser to former President Barack Obama, is acknowledging the legacy of former Fox News chief Roger Ailes.

“For better or worse & the ignominious end 2 his reign at Fox News, the impact of Roger Ailes on American politics & media was indisputable,” Axelrod tweeted Thursday.

In 2009, Axelrod said the Fox News Channel is “not really a news station” and that much of the programming is “not really news.”

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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1:05 p.m.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former Fox News personality and Roger Ailes’ friend, is calling the former Fox chief “a genius.”

“More than anyone, Roger knew how to frame the message and communicate it to the masses,” Huckabee said.

“The GOP has long had a problem speaking to people beyond the board room and country club — Roger changed that. He was a genius.”

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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12:40 p.m.

Former President George H.W. Bush is adding his voice to the many on social media mourning Ailes, saying his election in 1988 was in part due to the media strategist.

Ailes acted as a consultant to Bush during his 1988 presidential bid, as well as helping former Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

“He wasn’t perfect, but Roger Ailes was my friend & I loved him. Not sure I would have been President w/o his great talent, loyal help. RIP”

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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11:55 a.m.

Details are emerging about an accident Roger Ailes suffered in Florida a few days before died. According to a Palm Beach police report, a caller contacted 911 dispatchers just before 2 p.m. on May 10, saying Ailes had fallen in his bathroom, hit his head and had serious bleeding.

The caller said Ailes was not responding appropriately to questions and was still on the ground. Paramedics arrived within a minute and he was taken to a hospital.

No other details were announced.

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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11:36 a.m.

Fox personalities including Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham are remembering Roger Ailes.

“Roger Ailes founded one of the most important and successful media outlets in American history. I will miss his friendship dearly. RIP,” Ingraham wrote on Twitter.

Sean Hannity also took to the microblogging site to mourn his old boss: “He has dramatically and forever changed the political and the media landscape singlehandedly for the better.”

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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11:03 a.m.

Fox News executive chairman Rupert Murdoch issued a statement on the death of Roger Ailes, saying the media giant was “shocked and grieved” by his passing.

“A brilliant broadcaster, Roger played a huge role in shaping America’s media over the last 30 years. He will be remembered by the many people on both sides of the camera that he discovered, nurtured and promoted,” the statement read.

“Roger and I shared a big idea which he executed in a way no one else could have. In addition, Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs.”

Ailes died Thursday at age 77.

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10:28 a.m.

Roger Ailes, the communications maestro who transformed television news and America’s political conversation by creating and ruling Fox News Channel for two decades before being ousted last year for alleged sexual harassment, died Thursday, according to his wife, Elizabeth Ailes. He was 77.

A former GOP operative to candidates including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and a one-time adviser to President Donald Trump, Ailes’ TV network changed the face of 24-hour news. In early 1996, he accepted a challenge from media titan Rupert Murdoch to build a news network from scratch to compete with CNN and other TV outlets they deemed left-leaning.

But in little more than two weeks, both his legacy and job unraveled following allegations by former anchor Gretchen Carlson that he had forced her out of Fox News after she spurned his sexual advances. The lawsuit quickly triggered accounts from more than 20 women with similar stories.

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