Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson on Tuesday called for a federal investigation into Hollywood's "systematic" sex-abuse culture amid the growing allegations against powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein.
"Not all accusations of sexual harassment are real," Carlson told Jake Tapper on CNN. "This one is.
"It is time for the federal government to get involved.
"The Department of Justice should launch an immediate investigation into Hollywood's culture of systematic sexual abuse."
Carlson sued former Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes last year for alleged sexual harassment and discrimination, leading to his ouster three weeks later and her reportedly receiving a $20 million settlement.
Ailes, who denied the allegations, died this past May at age 77.
Carlson's agreement barred her from discussing Fox News in her interview with Tapper.
She dismissed assertions by top Weinstein Co. executives that they did not know about the exploits of the company's co-founder, who is also a huge Democratic Party donor.
"This is what happens in corporate America when you have an alleged predator like this," Carlson told Tapper. "There is no way that this could be going on.
"It's a cover-up. People would have to know.
"There is no way that other higher ups, lawyers there, didn't know about possible settlements being paid out," she continued. "This is what we need to change with corporate America.
"We need to go from covering up to encouraging the people to speak up."
Carlson said that the hypocrisy among Hollywood executives on the issue fed the malaise that currently permeates American politics.
"This is exactly why the American public hates politics right now and hates the divisive nature of this country," she told Tapper. "It's total hypocrisy.
"It's total hypocrisy to pretend like something didn't happen.
"This is exactly why the American people are fed up with actually both sides of the aisle."
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