Jennifer Eckhart is looking to support trauma survivors after a long and difficult five-year legal battle. Recently, she settled a lawsuit against Ed Henry, a former Fox News reporter, in which she accused him of rape.
Court documents from the Southern District of New York reveal that Eckhart, who previously worked at Fox News, claimed Henry groomed her from the age of 24 and raped her during her time at the network. Just as a civil trial was about to begin, the settlement was reached.
Eckhart expressed relief, saying, “This has been an exhausting, retraumatizing journey. With this settlement, I feel a weight lifted and I am more passionate than ever to help other survivors.”
In her lawsuit, Eckhart alleged that she was “violently raped while helpless and restrained in metal handcuffs.” Henry was dismissed from Fox News in July 2020, shortly before the lawsuit was filed, and he denied the allegations. He now works for Newsmax.
Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed Fox News from the lawsuit, but Eckhart plans to appeal that decision. A spokesperson for Fox News said they look forward to defending the dismissal.
Following the settlement, Henry’s attorney claimed that the parties were moving on with their lives. Despite the lawsuit’s resolution, Eckhart is not finished with her work. She runs a non-profit called The Reinvented Project, which helps trauma survivors through animal-assisted therapy.
Eckhart worked at Fox for nearly ten years and left to seek accountability through her lawsuit. She also hosts a podcast, REINVENTED with Jen Eckhart, where she provides a voice for those who may feel unheard.
“I turned pain into purpose,” Eckhart said, emphasizing that survivors don’t need courtroom validation to find strength. She now seeks to create systemic change, particularly around protections for media employees who report misconduct.
Eckhart highlights that Fox was allegedly aware of Henry’s misconduct going back to 2017 and calls for improved safety measures in workplaces. “This is a turning point in corporate America,” she stated, advocating for better protections against harassment.
Eckhart remains determined to win her appeal and ensure accountability. “I’m not here for headlines,” she insists. “I’m here for justice.”
