Fox News is the “Bill Cosby of corporate America" as the cable network has paid out millions of dollars to combat sexual harassment lawsuits levered against its most powerful male staff, according to a top lawyer.

Lisa Bloom, the lawyer representing a woman accusing Bill O’Reilly of sexual harassment, as well as representing four women who accused President Donald Trump of similar crimes, told CNN that there should be an immediate independent investigation of sexual harassment at the news network.

“How many women have to come forward? How many millions of dollars have to get paid before Fox News takes sexual harassment seriously?” she asked.

“In my view, Fox News is the Bill Cosby of corporate America. Women over and over again are driven out.”

Fox News could not be immediately reached for comment. Comedian Bill Cosby was himself accused by multiple women of sexual harassment and assault which he denied.

Mr O’Reilly, the man with the arguably top job in television, was exposed by the New York Times to have been accused multiple times over the past decade of sexual harassment, which he denied, and Fox News paid $13 million to settle the cases. In a statement, Mr O’Reilly said he settled the cases to spare his children from negative publicity. Fox News also backed him, saying the claims had no merit.

Roger Ailes, the former CEO and Chairman of the network, resigned with a multi-million dollar pay-out last year after denying a series of sexual harassment and assault allegations from former female anchors, including Andrea Tantaros, Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson.

After Ms Bloom spoke to CNN, former anchor Ms Carlson tweeted: “All I can say is thank you @LisaBloom”.

Ms Bloom, her mother and some of the accusers attended the women’s marches on Washington DC last month in a show of unity. Mr Trump also denied the allegations against him and called his accusers "sick" and "liars".

Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Show all 18 1 /18 Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters gather outside the White House at the finish of the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds attended the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters hold up signage near the Washington Monument during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Drew Angerer/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters gather during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters arrive at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters arrive on the platform at the Capital South Metro station for the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Demonstrators protest during the Women's March along Pennsylvania Avenue January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, the Women's March has spread to be a global march calling on all concerned citizens to stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion and for women's rights to be recognised around the world as human rights. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A marcher holds a sign during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The march is expected to draw thousands from across the country to protest newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A woman chants while attending the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Mario Tama/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters attend the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Mario Tama/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters march in Washington, DC, during the Women's March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A protester gestures toward the White House on the Ellipse near the South Lawn of the White House during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Drew Angerer/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington A protester, holding a Donald Trump doll wearing a pink cap, marches in Washington, DC, during the Womens March on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded US cities Saturday in a day of women's rights protests to mark President Donald Trump's first full day in office. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters take to the National Mall to demonstrate against the presidency of Donald Trump Washington, DC on January 21, 2017. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protesters march during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. Mario Tama/Getty Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Demonstrators gather on The Ellipse during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Demonstrators march down Pennsylvania Avenue during the Women's March on Washington January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of protesters spearheaded by women's rights groups demonstrated across the US to send a defiant message to US President Donald Trump. Zach Gibson/AFP/Getty Images Thousands attend Women's March on Washington Protester's signs are left near the White House during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. Large crowds are attending the anti-Trump rally a day after U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Mario Tama/Getty

Ms Bloom, daughter of lawyer Gloria Allred who also represents women who have accused the President of sexual assault, asked CNN: “Do women’s careers mean anything at Fox News? Do the laws of sexual assault get enforced there?”

She said the network’s newly-enforced sensitivity training was not sufficient and said it should “drive out the predators of the network” and bring back the women workers who were booted out.

Wendy Walsh, the psychology professor and radio host who has accused Mr O’Reilly of sexual harassment, posted a video on her twitter page encouraging women to report any inappropriate contact in the workplace.

“If you dress beautifully, if you smile a lot, if you stroke the ego of the big dog, the one who feeds your family or could offer you a dream job – it is not your fault if you are sexually harassed,” she said.

Before the press conference on 3 April with her lawyer, Ms Bloom, to “explain it all”, she tweeted: “Have headache and stomach in a knot. Many feelings: rattled by the mean letter from his lawyers, worried I’ll be misquoted. And sad for Bill.”