UPDATED, 7:50 AM: The now-benched host of Fox Business Network’s Making Money With Charles Payne is off the air while under investigation for sexual harassment, but the cable news veteran is making his case on social media today — with some Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin thrown in.

Probably not making the scrambling higher-ups at FBN or Fox News Channel happy, Payne said on Twitter early this morning:

I will fight this like a lion armed with truth. Thanks so much to all those that have reached out in support.#FightingBack — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) July 7, 2017

Trying to catch up with the news cycle that saw yet another member of the Fox News family under the cloud of such charges, the ex-Wall Streeter went online in a Trump-referencing barrage to defend himself. Rambling as one only can on Twitter, he addressed the long-term affair with a past FBN contributor and the allegation she was basically banned from the net after breaking things off with Payne a couple of years ago.

Here is the rest of what Payne had to say; somehow he really did work in references to the Trump-Putin meeting in Hamburg and the economy, maybe hoping for a POTUS retweet?

Days ago a reporter contacted me about (false) allegations and asked for a comment. I gave an immediate reply. He reported story w/out them — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) July 7, 2017

This was my reply: “That is an ugly lie I vehemently deny to my core. There is a mountain of proof that also proves its a lie.” — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) July 7, 2017

Not surprising media outlets that hate President Trump most put out most twisted stories on me – how do you misquote a written statement? — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) July 7, 2017

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Trying of winning yet? — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) July 7, 2017

I took fair amount of heat last week when I said @realDonaldTrump should greet Putin as gentleman with handshake – I think I was right — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) July 7, 2017

PREVIOUS, July 6, 5:30 PM: Less than a month after inking a new contract with Fox Business Network, the host of Making Money With Charles Payne has been pulled off the air under a cloud of sexual-harassment accusations.

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“We take issues of this nature extremely seriously and have a zero tolerance policy for any professional misconduct,” FBN said in a statement Thursday evening. “This matter is being thoroughly investigated and we are taking all of the appropriate steps to reach a resolution in a timely manner,” it added in language that has become all too common from the perch once ruled by Roger Ailes.

An ex-E.F. Hutton analyst on Wall Street, Payne has been with FBN since it launched in 2007.

Deadline also has learned that Payne has been suspended immediately as the investigation progresses. Making Money will see a series of so-called “sub-hosts” taking over in the coming days.

The married host admitted to the National Enquirer yesterday that he had an affair with an also-married female political analyst who was a frequent guest on FBN from 2013 until last year. Last month, the analyst, who since has been on CNN, told Fox attorneys at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison that she essentially was banished from FBN after she ended the relationship with Payne.

Related 21st Century Fox Has Paid Out $45M In Settlements Since Roger Ailes’ Fox News Exit

This latest allegation comes as big brother station Fox News Channel saw the now-deceased Ailes shown the door under multiple allegations of sexual harassment last summer. Unveiling an alleged culture at the once-top news cabler, the Ailes accusations were followed by high-profile hosts exiting for greener pastures, Bill O’Reilly fired, The Five co-host Bob Beckel pushed out again over supposed racial remarks to a staffer, more lawsuits including a potential class action for racial discrimination and short lived co-president and Ailes protege Bill Shine canned. All of which could have a damning effect on Rupert Murdoch and his sons’ attempt to finally gain control of Sky in Europe, a move that UK regulators and officials still are pondering.

The Los Angles Times first reported that claims of harassment were being leveled against Payne.

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