New court filings from conservative commentator and former Fox News host Ed Henry cast significant doubt on rape allegations made by former Fox Business associate producer Jennifer Eckhart. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, accused Henry of “handcuffing and raping” Eckhart in 2017. However, newly released evidence indicates their relationship was consensual and involved explicit exchanges initiated by Eckhart.
Henry’s legal team presented numerous messages suggesting that Eckhart, who was 22 at the time of the alleged incident, actively sought out rough sexual encounters. In one message, she referred to herself as “weak and submissive” and expressed a desire to be “slapped around.” These texts were sent just days after the alleged assault.
The filings highlight several instances of “highly provocative sexting.” In one message, Eckhart sent a photo of a belt, telling Henry, “I’d always obey and make myself available to u.” Additionally, Eckhart sent at least 15 sexually explicit photos, including five that were of other women, not herself.
The court motion argues that these exchanges demonstrate a consensual relationship. Henry’s attorneys assert that Eckhart’s lawsuit took excerpts of their conversations out of context to portray Henry as a predator. “Many of these messages, including most of the ones Jennifer thinks are incriminating, have been cut off to obscure a final comment by Jennifer expressing pleasure, agreement or desire,” the filing states.
Ten days after the alleged incident, Eckhart reportedly sent Henry a provocative photo of herself in black lingerie, followed by another image showing her exposed, soap-lathered body. The documents also reveal that their sexting continued for weeks and months afterward, often initiated by Eckhart, with references to consensual rough sex.
The revelations have sparked reactions, including from Roger Stone, who commented on X (formerly Twitter), “Case Against @edhenry destroyed by revealing text messages.” These newly disclosed communications challenge the narrative of coercion and raise questions about the validity of Eckhart’s claims, suggesting the interactions were consensual and mutually driven.
