Lawyers Talking in Bill O’Reilly Case

NEW YORK – Lawyers are talking in the harassment case against Bill O’Reilly, raising the possibility of a settlement between the Fox News Channel host and the producer who says he engaged her in unwanted phone sex.

The talks are ongoing, said a source with knowledge of the case who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity.

There was no statement from Fox or lawyers for Andrea Mackris, the 33-year-old producer who said O’Reilly made a series of explicit phone calls to her, advised her to use a vibrator and told her about sexual fantasies involving her.

O’Reilly actually sued Mackris hours before her case was filed Oct. 13. The talk show host said he was fighting back against an extortion attempt, that Mackris and her lawyer demanded $60 million in “hush money” to make the case quietly go away.

O’Reilly, who’s married, is host of the top-rated prime-time cable news program – and he’s seen his ratings go up by 30 percent since the case was filed.

The New York Daily News reported Friday that Mackris’ attorney, Benedict Morelli, made an overture to Fox’s lawyers this week through Lisa Bloom, a Court TV anchor who was reporting on the case.

Bloom denied that she acted as a go-between in the case, said Court TV spokeswoman Andie Silvers.