Jason Hermes, a Vice President of Content Sales and Partnerships for Fox Weather, a division operating under Fox News Media, was terminated on April 29, 2026, after undercover footage surfaced showing him discussing alleged misuse of corporate credit cards. The recording, released by James O’Keefe and his O’Keefe Media Group (OMG) on April 28, 2026, detailed Hermes's claims of charging personal expenses, including strip club visits, to company cards and subsequently falsifying expense reports.
"You could take this [Fox credit card], walk into a strip club, literally, and spend $4,000. Go to your corporate manager and they will sign it and pay it off… ‘Well that’s what the client wanted," — Jason Hermes, Former Vice President of Content Sales and Partnerships for Fox Weather
In the footage, Hermes reportedly described a method where large sums, specifically up to $4,000, could be charged on a corporate credit card at a strip club. He claimed these expenses would then be approved by a corporate manager under the pretense of client entertainment. When an undercover journalist pressed Hermes on whether actual clients were involved in these outings, he stated, "No, we would just do it ourselves and lie on the expense reports." Hermes further suggested that such practices were not unique to Fox, claiming similar arrangements existed across other major media companies, including NBC.
Hermes, who joined Fox Weather in September 2024 after serving as VP of content marketing sales at The Weather Channel, allegedly boasted about his position within the company as a shield against accountability. He claimed to oversee approximately $90 million in annual business, stating, "No one asks a question… When I’m bringing in 90 million, no one’s gonna f***ing say a word to me." He described the arrangement as "winning the lottery" and portrayed himself as an influential figure behind the scenes, saying, "It’s the best job, because I’m a celebrity around all of it, but no one knows me."
The recording reportedly showed Hermes holding up what appeared to be an active corporate credit card, explaining that substantial charges could be submitted without consequence as long as the expense report contained appropriate language. He attributed this culture to the media industry, remarking, "it’s still like that because it’s [the] media. It’s nobody’s money." According to Hermes's statements in the footage, single charges at strip clubs reportedly reached as high as $4,000, sometimes occurring on weekday afternoons.
O’Keefe Media Group stated that the conduct described by Hermes directly violates Fox Corporation’s Standards of Business Conduct. These standards require employees to maintain "rigorous accuracy and honesty in our financial records" and submit "accurate and complete" information. OMG also highlighted a potential violation of U.S. Tax Code Section 274, which specifies that "no deduction shall be allowed for an activity generally considered to constitute entertainment, amusement, or recreation." The group referenced a 2015 indictment involving similar conduct, in which an individual faced five counts of wire fraud, suggesting that if the described expenses had been reported as legitimate business costs, federal law could be implicated.
Separately in the recording, Hermes made remarks about his political views, stating, "I’m not like, a fcking MAGA red hat, like, asshle. I’m not a Donald Trump supporter." When O’Keefe Media Group contacted Hermes for comment regarding the allegations, he reportedly responded, "No, thank you" and "Okay, bye" before ending the call.
Fox News Media confirmed Hermes's termination to O’Keefe Media Group on April 29, 2026, the day after the footage was released. At the time of the termination announcement, Fox News Media had not issued a broader public statement regarding the incident. The swift action by Fox News Media underscores the seriousness with which such allegations of corporate misconduct are often treated, particularly when involving high-ranking executives and public scrutiny. The incident has drawn attention to corporate accountability and ethical practices within large media organizations.
