Democratic senators investigate Fox News bonus payments to Bill Shine

Four Democratic senators are requesting the White House counsel's office to provide documents and answer detailed questions about whether Trump aide and former Fox News executive Bill Shine is breaking conflict of interest laws as he continues to get paid by 21st Century Fox.

In a letter obtained by CNBC, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse and Edward Markey addressed what they say could be a breach of federal ethics laws after a new financial disclosure report showed Shine getting guaranteed bonuses from 21st Century Fox totaling approximately $7 million over this year and next.

Shine resigned from Fox in May 2017. The disclosure form shows he is due bonuses of about $3.5 million in 2018 and 2019. He also received $8.4 million in severance pay when he left the company.

Shine left Fox News after being embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal involving late Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. While Shine was never accused of harassing women at the network, he was named in numerous lawsuits claiming he covered up Ailes' misconduct. Shine has denied wrongdoing. He joined President Donald Trump's administration as deputy chief of staff for communications in July.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/10/democratic-senators-probe-fox-news-payments-to-trump-aide-bill-shine.html