Bill Shine’s Fox News Severance Package Tops $8.4 Million

White House communications chief will receive a bonus and options for next two years of about $3.5 million each

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Bill Shine, the former co-president of Fox News and now the communications chief for the Trump administration, received $8.4 million in severance pay from 21st Century Fox after his resignation in May 2017, according to CNBC.

Along with that payout, Shine will receive bonuses and options for 2018 and 2019, both of which are valued at approximately $3.5 million, according to a White House financial disclosure report obtained by CNBC.

The White House press secretary’s office and representatives for Fox News did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on Friday. 21st Century Fox, the news outlet’s parent company, declined to comment.

CNBC says it obtained the report “after dozens of requests to the Office of Government Ethics.”

In July, The New York Times reported that the former co-president of Fox News was subpoenaed in 2017 as part of a criminal investigation into the company’s handling of multiple accusations of sexual harassment by top executives like former CEO Roger Ailes and on-air talent.

Though Shine was never personally accused of misconduct, he has been named in multiple civil suits against the channel with claims that he did not properly address complaints.

Shine joined the Trump White House to lead the communications team this summer, capping a long search to replace Hope Hicks. He is the fourth person to hold the turbulent job since Trump took office last year.

Many questioned his appointment given his high-profile position at Fox News when the accusations of misconduct — as well as pricey settlements to female staffers — first came to light.

Shine, a former protege of Ailes, was ousted last May as co-president, with Jack Abernethy remaining at the company. The two had been promoted to lead the network after the removal of Ailes as CEO in July 2016.

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