Olbermann suspended for Dem contributions
(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
- Here's where President Biden's Cabinet nominees stand
- Inside Kamala Harris' historic first days January 24, 2021 05:10 pm
- Biden urges patience as frustration grows over vaccine supply January 24, 2021 04:30 pm
- Here are the 30 executive orders and actions Biden signed in his first three days January 24, 2021 04:26 pm
- Romney: Impeachment trial after Trump has left office is constitutional January 24, 2021 04:20 pm
- Warren: 'With Kamala's swearing in, women are one step closer' January 24, 2021 04:06 pm
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...