(CNN) - Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's primetime firebrand host, has been suspended indefinitely for violating the ethics policies of his employer earlier this year when he donated to three Democrats seeking federal office, MSNBC announced Friday.
"I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay," MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement.
First reported by Politico and confirmed by Federal Election Commission filings, the primetime television host gave $2,400 – the maximum individual amount allowed – to each of the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway, and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords. (View PDF's of FEC filings for Conway, Grijalva, and Giffords)
Conway lost his bid to Republican Rand Paul while Grijalva eked out a win over Tea Party-backed candidate Ruth McClung for a fifth term. Grijalva found himself in an increasingly competitive race after he announced his support of a boycott of Arizona businesses in response to the state's controversial new immigration law and often appeared on Olbermann's show where he found a sympathetic audience. CNN, meanwhile, has yet to declare a winner in Giffords' race, but the Democrat currently holds about a 3,000-vote lead with all precincts reporting.
The contributions may have violated an NBC policy that requires employers of the news organization to obtain permission ahead of any political donations or activities that could be deemed as a conflict of interest. CNN institutes a similar policy.
In a statement to Politico before the suspension was announced, Olbermann defended the contributions:
"One week ago, on the night of Thursday October 28 2010, after a discussion with a friend about the state of politics in Arizona, I donated $2,400 each to the re-election campaigns of Democratic Representatives Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords," he said in the statement. "I also donated the same amount to the campaign of Democratic Senatorial candidate Jack Conway in Kentucky."
Olbermann, as well as MSNBC executives, was a vocal critic of the $1 million donation by Fox News' parent News Corp. to the Republican Governor's Association earlier this year, saying at the time, "We now have another million reasons Fox News is the Republican news channel."
In a subsequent show, Olbermann also pressed House Majority Whip James Clyburn if there was a "legislative response" to a networks that "starts to shill for partisan causes."
A News Corp. spokesman defended the donation when it was first reported in August.
"News Corporation believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy," the spokesman said.
– CNN's Alexander Mooney and David DeSola contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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my only complaint with this story is maybe CNN should find out if it was a violation before they print this story. This reads as sour grapes for CNN to not find out if this is a violation first....this is not fox that just makes stuff up is it.
I love having Olbermann on the air. Sure he spreads misinformation and hate, but it is so obvious that only the real kooks will watch him. Actually, I sometimes turn on MSNBC when I need a real laugh.
Olberman is a hypocrite and a liar. Fire him, immediately
Keith is the consumate worstest person ever. Undiluted hipocrate.
Who cares if Olberman donates to his liberal candidates? His ratings are plummeting because he is a biased liberal moron!! Like most Liberals, he is foaming out of his mouth because people do not worship him and what he stands for..... It is just a matter of time before he implodes over the rise of conservatism!
If you watched their election coverage attack flap you will understand why.
Keith Olberman is not a network.
ALL news pundits from ALL news media, be it television or print, take themselves way too seriously. The world neither shines nor sets on any one of them .. yet ... in listening to or reading their comments and opinions, one gets the impression THEY at least think otherwise.
Olbermann is an individual, Faux news is a network and almost news, big difference.
A raving, raging, demonizing, demeaning, left wing nut job is nothing but a common hypocritical criminal. Gee there is a surprise.
What's the big deal. FOX not only donates to their political organizaiton, they promote their candidates as well as false propaganda on their "news network". Keith Olberman has donated to lots of worthy charities. I love the one where he donated to the Special Olympics every time Sarah Palin would say or do something that was typical of her, he ended up donating a lot of money thanks to her.
its all a double standard when the liberals / progressives get caught...............nothing new here
this guy is a hard-on, beat him down or beat him off so he goes away................he is just another angry left wing nut job
Maddow is marginally better but just as useless...............nobody watches these quacks, infact I'll bet that nobody even reads this article because it has to do with MSNBC..............see the connection?
I would think giving money in his own name would be OK- given thta he could have done it through someone else and truly been unethical.
And , do we honestly think these men and women don't have a leaning one way or the other?
NBC should have canned this arrogant schmuck long ago. He is the ONLY reason I never watch MSNBC.
This is typical of NBC and why they are no longer considered a credible news organization. Olbermann has never had any ethics (nor talent), now we see that he is corrupt as well. Only NBC would hire this guy.
However, since NO ONE watches him, his donation probably didn't do anything either.
Keith Olbermann should be able to give what he wants to give, why don't you report what fox news is doing, which is stealing elections, or even buying elections.
this left wing whacko is a non player ... his show is just silly and stupid,,,, let him throw his money away who cares,,,,
I have a dog that is more of a journalist than the hack Olberman. MSLSD is a joke and their ratings prove it.
Ah ... Fox says it's a NEWS show, Olbermann's show is OPINION, there's a difference.
Of course he broke the rules. Liberals are the worst in keeping any rules or laws. Olbermann is a sad, angry individual who should lick his wounds and shut up for a change.
This is NOT the same thing as FOX "News" – KO is not a network and he didn't give $1 million to a political organization, he's never raised money on his broadcast nor suggested his viewers give money to a political party or candidate. I don't see why journalists are not allowed to make personal donations. They are not robots. They only things I would object to would be shilling for personal monetary gain, such as Glenn Beck selling gold coins, or shilling for the Dem party coffers, as the Fox guys do for the GOP, neither of which are the case.
In Olbermann's defense he is slime which is compliment against slime
I did not realize msnbc had rules pertaining to democrats
....but its only wrong when the Republicans do it...
Olbermann, like Rush Limbaugh is irrelevant.
Time to apply the same rules across the board...........fire him. He is a true representation of what is wrong with NBC and other liberal networks. They do talk about of both sides of their mouths!
Uh how much did Timer Warner donate to political candidates, are they a member of the chamber of commerce? how about guys like Rush Limbaugh, and Candy Crowley, did she contribute to any political candidate, did you investigage every single one or your reporter? CNN in the pocket of the republicans.
Give me a break, this is news? Fox News openly supports every right wing nut and not only donates thousands of doolars but gives them free aire time and lets them spew their posion on the air nightly.
I can’t imagine that this is news – NBC and Olbermann are two distinct entities, it is true that he works for MSNBC but he is also a citizen of the United States of America and should be allowed to contribute to candidates. It might be a policy of NBC to require permission(?) of its news personalities before they do and it’s up to NBC on how they want to deal with him but it’s he cannot be judged by us. First of all he is not there to report news, he is there to comment and open dialog – anyone who watches his show knows his leanings (for better or worst). Fox itself gave a million dollars to the republicans and half their staff was touring the country stumping for candidates – let’s get real. NOT A STORY – I am sure CNN staff cares enough about the country to support candidates who they feel will do better for it.
Olbermann is the epitome of democrat hypocrisy. He constantly rants and raves against Fox News and O'Reilly as "shills for the republican party", yet does his own shilling for the democrat party!
If MSNBC had an ounce of credibility (which, thanks to their biggest supporter–George Soros–they don't), they would have fired Olbermann for this obvious blatant violation of their ethics policy.
Perhaps now that the republicans have wrested control of the House, they'll look into Olbermann's request for a "legislative response" to MSNBC's shilling for partisan causes.
The article doesn't say how or why what he did was against the rules. Seems to me, he should be able to donate to whichever political campaigns he wants with his own money in his private life, just like anyone else. He wasn't donating on behalf of his show or the network. Unlike Fox News, which exists only to promote, endorse and finance the Republican party.
What a surprise, do as I say, not as I do right Keith?
What is wrong with that ? He defends openly democrats he donated his own money
FOX is republican media they donate 2 millions we know that so what move on
If MSNBC or NBC has not commented – why in the world would you put the speculation out there. Please, CNN, don't report partial facts. So Olbermann donated to a political campaign; until you know for sure he violated NBC policy, don't speculate. Bad, bad, bad journalism – I thought CNN was above the fold; apparently not.
This is one of the most partisan commentators on the air and he wants to cry foul at Fox News. Quit whining.
The ONLY thing Keith Olberman did WRONG was not "GET PERMISSION" before he donated!!! I don't think he would have been DENIED and I do BELIEVE that EVERYONE has a right to make a donation as long as they stay within the GUIDELINES of the amount – and Keith did that!!!
This incident SHOULD NOT even be compared to what FOX NEWS did – $1 Million dollars IS NOT $2400 and $2400 represents ONE individual and not a WHOLE company!! Let’s MOVE ON!!
This is T'sah – OUT of campaign MODE and N2 MOVING AMERICA FORWARD with President Obama!!!
Keith Olbermann is a pompous liberal who was a stuttering fool during election coverage. The only thing he and Rachel Maddow could do was to put on their false smiles, laugh, and continue to insult O'Donnell. They didn't want to look at the rest of the country where liberals got their asses handed to them. The only thing that he and Rachel Maddow do is dig up crap to smear people's reputation. Turns out they only have to go as far as their own news desk. The American people spoke up and sent their message loud and clear to liberals: we won't put up with liberal rhetoric, radical ideologies, increased government intrusion, and increased deficits and unemployment. Since MSNBC is the liberal media machine for the current administration, I'll guarantee that nothing will happen to Mr Olbermann. MSNBC would rather hold others accountable but not their own liberals. And regarding the election results, MSNBC: Suck it up!
Do as we say, not as we do – Democrat moto
Olbermann, who makes no secret of his partisanship, does not claim to be "fair and balanced", as FOX News [sic] does. He readily acknowledges that he is a commentator and not a newscaster. His donations were made as a private citizen, in accordance with the laws of the FEC. The biggest difference between NBC and FOX is that NBC has some sort of conflict of interest policy, while FOX does not.
Olbermann should have stayed at ESPN
So..Olbermann is in trouble for actually putting his money where his mouth is? Everyone knows Olbermann and Maddow are very liberal, Hannity and Reilly are very conservative, and CNN is just an ignored middle child.
correct me if i'm wrong here, but he is a citizen is he not? Unless he donated from an nbc account i don't see how this violates any nbc rules. they clearly lean left in their reporting anyway.. if fox news can donate millions to the RGA and COC, then why in the world is $2,400 being called out???? A bit odd if you ask me. the right would love to see Keith go down and do you know why?! Because he doesn't let them get away with a damn thing.. I and millions of others love it! For too long they've been able to say what they want, when they want, with NO accountability whatsoever. There should be more people like he and Chris Matthews on television keeping sanity alive!!
While he should have followed the proper procedures of asking NBC's permission first, this is by no means the same as News Corp. donating a million to the Republican cause. This is Keith Olbermann as an INDIVIDUAL donating the maximum that he could AS AN INDIVIDUAL to campaigns of his choosing. Drawing the false parallel of an individual to a corporation is bogus reporting. CNN used to be so much better than this.
I don't get it rightwingers. Either nobody watches Keith Olbermann and MSNBC or he's the most important news man in America. Pick an argument and stick with it conservative loons.
Mr. Olbermann love watching you from time to time but dude.....its like the pot calling the kettle black when you critized Fox News for doing what you have did. Just saying....
I'm a democrat but Olbermann is one of the reasons I won't even watch MSNBC. I hope they fire him and maybe I'll tune in.
no big deal... as ain individual he should be able to donation to any campaign he wants... conversly, Fox(FixedNews)News did donate $1m to a campaign as a CORPORATE DONATION , not as a person donating UNDER & WITHIN the $2400 limit for an individual........
msnbc did not make the donation a "private person" make a donation, end of story....
much ado about nothing....
Oh – I forgot to mention the fact that individual max donation of $2,400 is not even remotely close to the 1,000,000 Fox gave to the Republicans, so why put THAT out there??
This guy exemplifies the typical progressive liberals idea of ethics rules, they are for everyone else but themselves...he should join Juan Williams in the unemployment line. I wonder if FOX News could make room for him somewhere in their organization, mail room clerk maybe?
does anyone still watch this Soros puppet anymore? hasn't he been demoted to MediaMatters or MoveOn.org yet? I mean seriously why would anyone listen to a Hungarian billionaire's puppet? How does he have anything to do with americans?
Is this some kind of joke???!!!! NBC has an ethics policy??!!!! I doubt they have EVER enforced it given this clown is still on the air.
And $2,400 pays for...coffee? napkins? bus fuel? What an evil character!! Oh my!!! Keith!!! No--say it can't possibly that you sent hidden millions to those who support MSNBC's positions!!!!
Please tell me we are not back to the Bush administration Modus Operandi where just because you don`t like what someone has done, you try to get them canned. Olberman will not be the next Valerie Plame.
No laws were broken, Olberman was total transparent about the donations. There is nothing to see here.
He should be fired...........................
Hypocrite! Let's see if NBC fires him; highly unlikely.
So his NBC halo has slipped a bit?
Like the way the FOX analysts' halos have slipped so far south they've exploded into flames and turned to dust?
So what? His money, he can do with it what he chooses.
No lefitst media bias? Busted!
And of course, no action will be taken, because the rules only apply to the "little people" right Kieth?
Because nobody at Fox has ever donated money t a GOP candidate?
They have a policy against wasting your own money?!?!
Why does GE allow such vitriolic, divisive noise? Olberman is as guilty as Fox of partisan reporting. Perhaps he helps GE secure some of the billions of dollars of government contracts that it "wins" every year. Throw the bum out.
So what's the beef here?!
Fox News Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Glen Beck, Bill O'reilly, Sean Hannity are all card carrying members of the GOP and they are publicly donating to the republican party...and even holding campaign rallies for the GOP-Tea Party!
The US Supreme Court have already ruled on the side of Big Business, Wall Streets and "news"! corporations....that they can donate and fund political parties and campaigns....even the US Chamber of Commerce s taking money from foreign corporations and corporate entities to support the GOP & Republican candidates!!
So what's the beef?!.....CHINA is standing ready to BUY the USA...either by funding our campaigns or our govt!!!!!
US of CHINA! Go figure!!!!
But it's OK for EVERYBODY on or associated with Fox News and Rupert Murdoch to blatantly give money to, supply jobs for, routinely support, actively push, and pander to the Republican Party on a daily basis? That's rich.
Is Olbermann the parent company running MSNBC now? Is he even the Owner or CEO?
Nice non-story CNN.
of course, it was cnn which first reported it...stupidity in order to gain favor fromthe crminalrepubliCONServatives....shame on you cnn.
Why not investigate the dealings of those on the right who hide behind the SCOTUS,not all members, shameful decision????..cnn do your journalistic work not gossip a la palin, the one with the jilted hyena s voice.
MSNBC should not respond to cnn s request for comment.
Of course. Olbermann has never exhibited anything but the most rudimentary understanding of anything. Why would we assume differently about his understanding of an ethics policy, it's clarity and forthrightness notwithstanding?
How is this a headline story? Anybody that might care already knows that MSNBC is a humorous joke a news organization. For all the flak that Fox News takes, much of it deserved, MSNBC is far more blatant in it's favoritism and complete lack of reporting on anything they don't "like" that actually happens.
Never mind the mega-millions pumped by BigBiz into right-wing candidates' coffers, we now have here a full-blown,
smoking-gun scandal involving Kieth Olberman and NBC! Call out the 'guard, ready the nukes; this treasonous Enemy-of-Liberty has been caught red-handed giving money to leftists!
I guess that only major corporations and FOX can donate to candidates. The rest of us are not deemed loyal or rich enough to do so. We have entered the era of IC: Ideologically Correctness, where you can be hauled in front of a committee in Congress and deprived of your freedom if you don't meet the litmus test of the wacko right. I don't always agree with Olbermann, but for anyone to object to his donations after FOX providing a paid platform for Palin, Kasich, Huckabee, and a man caught with a call girl (Dick Morris) to spew their worthless opinions is beyond belief. But, in a world where only the rich matter and the middle class is endangered due to 3 decades of deregulation, we should not be surprised.
The USA: the best democracy foreign money can buy.
News Corp gave $1 million and nothing happened to it. Olbermann gave $2400 and he's in trouble. What's wrong with this picture?
What a hoot! Olbermann rails about Fox being a shill for thr Repubs. Having watched his program during (commercial beaks on Fox) he is about as left as they get and he attacks attacks attacks all the time. he is getting to be somewhat of a joke. In fact, the crowd at MSNBC, Him, maddow, schultz and matthews are very biased and show it. Even the "pure news" has a bias. That is why i don't watch regularly.
HUGE difference between an individual who works for a network, even as on-air talent (who does an OPINION show, thank you) donating to three specific campaigns and a "news" network donating to a political party. If Olbermann violated NBC policy it is only because NBC actually HAS such a policy... unlike Fox.
There was a time I really liked Keith. Lately, I don't. Oh well, we will see how this plays out.
WOW. This is the most hypocrite that I see on television. It's constantly make a lot of lies about the Republicans and the everybody that has opinions on the center-right, that is why MSNBC has more letters than viewers. They constantly talk about FOX, but at least FOX has some people the represent the left or center left, but they not has one that represent the right or center-right. HYPOCRITE............................
Does anyone really think they will hold Olberperson responsible for his actions? Others at MSNBC probably did the same. It's ok for Liberals to violate rules because their cause is for having people dependent on the government so they can keep their votes. He is a primary example of what is being referred to as the "ELITES" who know what is best for everyone. They would be afraid to fire him for fear of the reaction on the left. This is worse than the supposed crime Juan Williams committed.
He has been obvious, in his one-sided programs for Democrats, on the show. While I recognize that Fox has done the same for the GOP, that doesn't make either one right, in their behaviors.
There should NOT be politically biased programming, masquerading as news.
No surprise!...Every "Host" on MSNBC is guilty of dishonest, unethical, and biased "reporting". Contributions are a foregone conclusion.
most talking media talk the talk and dont do the talk, they are hypocrite. I dont just watch or read the news much. they are not trusted.
If he was a financial, health care or manufacturing corporation he could have donated anonymously.
Yes, FOX is the channel of the right, and MSNBC, New York Times, NBC, Washington Post, Times, Newsweek, CBS, ABC etc all are the channel of the Democrats what is the point here. What a bunch of hypocrites. CNN I have to said that is moving more to the center, and I think that is why they are more relevant.
Yea, go after the little man CNN. CNN/Fox News!
'...Fox News is the Republican news channel.' Oh really?
I'd put it more like: Fox News is the republican propaganda and disinformation arm; let's at least call a spade a spade!
what violation, did nbc want to buy them instead, with recent supreme court ruling
As an employee of General Electric, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to see MSNBC get sold off to Comcast. I am however shocked that NBC even had an ethics policy.
Is there a concern that someone might come to believe that Olbermann or MSNBC is biased? Heaven forbid.
Oh Keith, Keith Keith. I'm sure that if Glen Beck did this, you would have run it for a year. Just like a true Progressive – they want to dictate and judge me how I live my life but how they live their's is not subject to the same rules.
but Karl Rove can fund the entire Republican campaign with secret money!? as if we have campaign ethics in America!
Yeah, Keith, Fox News is the Republican news channel. And what exactly is YOUR channel? Could you and Maddow possibly be any more left wing?
Ah, it doesn't matter - MSNBC's ratings are in the toilet, anyway.