Roger Yu

USA TODAY

Fox News broadcaster Megyn Kelly has told investigators hired by 21st Century Fox that her boss, Roger Ailes, has sexually harassed her in the past, and Ailes has now been asked to resign by Aug. 1 or face termination over the recently surfaced allegations about his workplace behavior, according to a report by New York magazine.

Meanwhile, the Drudge Report said late Tuesday that it had obtained a document that shows Ailes will receive more than $40 million to leave the network. Twenty-first Century Fox then tweeted that "Roger is at work."

"The review is ongoing," Fox's tweet continued. "The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement."

Twenty-first Century Fox, the media giant that owns Fox News Channel, declined to comment on New York magazine's report. Spokespeople for Fox News, the conservative-leaning cable news network founded by Ailes in 1996, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Ailes, who's Fox News' chairman and CEO, was sued on July 6 by former Fox broadcaster Gretchen Carlson, who claimed that her career was sabotaged by Ailes after she refused his sexual advances. He has vigorously denied the allegation, saying her lawsuit is a retaliatory measure for the network's refusal to renew her contract in June. She was let go, Ailes said, due to the low ratings of her show, The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson.

Twenty-first Century Fox, while expressing confidence in Ailes, has hired law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to conduct an investigation into Carlson's claims. After reviewing the probe's initial findings, 21st Century Fox's top executives — executive chairman Rupert Murdoch; his eldest son and co-executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch; and CEO James Murdoch, Murdoch's younger son — set a deadline of Aug. 1 to have Ailes resign, according to the New York magazine report. If he doesn't resign, he could be fired for cause, the report said.

For Fox News' Ailes, a huge challenge

The report was written by Gabriel Sherman, who's authored a critical biography of Ailes, The Loudest Voice in the Room. Sherman also previously reported that more than a dozen women have contacted Carlson's lawyer, Nancy Smith, to offer their details about alleged sexual harassment from Ailes prior to the launching of Fox News and on Monday published a story that the Murdochs have agreed to remove Ailes.

Several female Fox broadcasters, including Greta Van Susteren and Jeanine Pirro, have come out in support of Ailes in recent days. But the notable silence from Kelly, the network's rising star, on the matter has raised eyebrows among industry watchers.

In an interview with Charlie Rose in 2015, Kelly said Ailes was her mentor. "He's also a friend," she said. "I depend on him for friendship and sane, honest advice. He gives you advice on personal life, who you are and how you're translating on television. He has this X-ray vision into your soul."

Follow USA TODAY media reporter Roger Yu on Twitter @ByRogerYu.