Bill Shine, Ousted From Fox News in Scandal, Joins White House Communications Team

Bill Shine, the former Fox News executive who was pushed out over his handling of sexual harassment scandals at the network, was named the White House deputy chief of staff for communications Thursday.

The move formalizes a job that Shine has been in since earlier this week, according to White House officials. With no vacant office to work in yet, Shine has been occupying a desk outside the principal deputy press secretary’s office, the officials said.

Shine had been in talks with President Donald Trump about a job since the spring, even playing golf with the president and Sean Hannity, the Fox News host and one of Shine’s close friends. But Shine had been uncertain that he wanted to make himself a target for fresh scrutiny, people who had talked with him at the time said.

Since then, the communications job has evolved into a position that reports directly to the president, overseeing both the press and communications teams. Trump has made the communications team a target of his ire throughout his time in office, and Shine is expected to help revamp it.

Shine’s title is also assistant to the president, though his other duties remain unclear. He declined to comment for this article.

Shine “brings over two decades of television programming, communications, and management experience to the role,” the White House said in a statement announcing the appointment.

Some close to the White House expect Shine to serve as an extension of Hannity, giving him additional insight into the administration.

Shine was never accused of harassment himself. But his boss, Roger E. Ailes, was, and Shine was accused in lawsuits of turning a blind eye to a climate that was hostile toward women.

Shine’s hiring has been protested by some conservatives. The website Newsmax, run by Christopher Ruddy, a Trump ally, published an article last week raising questions about the wisdom of bringing Shine on board given his Fox News baggage.