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A former left-wing Fox News contributor who was once dubbed the “liberal sherpa” appears to be in a great deal of legal trouble.
Cathy Areu has been arrested after she allegedly kidnapped her 88-year-old mother and stole at least a quarter of a million dollars from her.
Florida authorities say that Areu placed her mother in a nursing home two times against her will, even allegedly dragging her mother from her own home on one occasion.
“Every incident of alleged elder exploitation or abuse touches our heart and never fails to shock us,” noted a statement from Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “It seems particularly harder to understand when the alleged perpetrator of the exploitation is a daughter, or a son or another blood relative.”
The Daily Wire added:
In one instance, Areu’s mother allegedly denied signing paperwork that turned over her home to her daughter. Areu also allegedly used a revoked power of attorney to place her elderly mother in a nursing home without her consent on two separate occasions, the Daily Mail noted.
The former commentator is facing a number of felony charges including kidnapping, exploitation of the elderly, and organized scheme to defraud, according to 7 News Miami. Areu has been denied bond and is currently being held at Miami-Dade county jail.
Reports said that Areu, a podcast host, has been under investigation at least since 2019, even spending time in Mexico over the summer to evade authorities, allegedly.
She had filed a lawsuit against Fox News, but that was dismissed last year. Law & Crime reported that she filed suit against sued network and personalities Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Howard Kurtz, as well as former Fox host Ed Henry.
“In July 2020, Cathy Areuwas one of two women who filed a federal lawsuit against Fox News prefaced by a ‘TRIGGER WARNING’ in blaring red, boldface text that it contained ‘Highly Graphic Information of a Sexual Nature, Including Sexual Assault,'” the outlet reported. “The lead plaintiff, ex-associate producer Jennifer Eckhart, saw her allegations advance to discovery in September, including one accusing Henry of sex trafficking her.”
The Daily Wire noted:
Areu claimed in the now-dismissed suit that Tucker Carlson propositioned her and then declined to have her on his show after she rebuffed him. However, she was invited on as a guest on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” four times in four months after the alleged incident.
Taking aim at Sean Hannity, Areu said the host “threw $100 on the set desk” “completely unsolicited” and then “began calling out to the men in the room and demanding that someone take Ms. Areu out on a date for drinks at Del Friscos. He repeatedly yelled, ‘who wants to take her on a date?’ ‘Take her on a date to Del Friscos.’” The 51-year-old was “completely mortified,” she claimed.
However, emails unearthed during a subsequent investigation by the network noted that Area had actually asked a Fox News staffer if it would be okay if she brought a male friend to the show. The network then noted that Hannity offered the liberal guest and her friend “Alex” $100 to get drinks at the ritzy Del Frisco’s steakhouse near the studio after her appearance.
Afterward, Areu sent an email thanking Hannity and his staffers for bringing her on the show. Hours later, she sent another email that included a picture of a martini she reportedly bought at the steakhouse, compliments of Hannity’s $100 gift.
The Associated Press noted that Areu’s Fox News profile said she is a one-time contributing editor to the Washington Post Magazine. Between 2001 and 2012, she conducted political interviews for the outlet. She also founded Catalina magazine in 2001, which sought to “break stereotypes and show a positive side of the U.S. Hispanic community.” In addition, she was the host of the “Liberal Sherpa” podcast.
The outlet noted that the network took down her profile after her arrest became public.
“Details of Areu’s arrest were not released, but prosecutors said she had been evading authorities since June, including spending time in Mexico. She was being held without bond Friday at the county jail. Court and jail records do not show if she has an attorney,” ABC7 reported.
