NY Post "Page Six" Gossip Columnists in Extortion Scheme--Murdoch Mum

[autorank]

STUNNING. The NY Post (owned by Rupert Murdoch) has a gossip columnist for their gossip page, Page Six, who was extorting money from wealthy people. How did they do it? They'd go to these people and demand huge sums of money in return for NOT running stories. Who were their targets? Well, the target mentioned in this story is a California billionaire and "Democratic fund raiser." What a scandal. This will develop into something huge, I predict.


Update: 02:00 PM EDT

In Page Six Inquiry, Gossip Swirls Around Gossips

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/08/business/media/08post.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=2b3608dee270d6ff&hp=&ex=1144468800&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1144526503-29f7/bHAc8Hk4107PYk9IQ&pagewanted=print
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON, ALLISON HOPE WEINER and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM
Published: April 8, 2006

April 8, 2006
In Page Six Inquiry, Gossip Swirls Around Gossips
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON, ALLISON HOPE WEINER and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM

The New York Post is cooperating with a federal investigation into whether a longtime contributor for the Page Six gossip column — the avidly read daily log of wrongdoing, double-dealing and sexual indiscretions by celebrities both minor and major — tried to extort money from a California billionaire, according to a spokesman for the newspaper.

Several people involved in the investigation said the reporter, Jared Paul Stern, had been captured on a video recording demanding a $100,000 payment and a monthly stipend of $10,000 from Ronald W. Burkle in return for keeping negative information about him out of the paper. Mr. Stern was suspended Thursday pending the outcome of the investigation, and could be dismissed, according to Howard Rubenstein, the spokesman.

But while the accusations against Mr. Stern are serious, it is the specter — raised by at least three people who say they know what is on the tapes — that Mr. Stern implicated several celebrities and New York power figures in an undisclosed, symbiotic relationship with Page Six that prompted an extraordinary day of full-throated and at times gleeful gossip among those who love, hate and avidly read the column.

<snip>

The scandal that is rattling Page Six began about a year ago, when items about Mr. Burkle, a supermarket magnate and Democratic fund-raiser, began appearing in the column more often.

More analysis on this in a few minutes on GDP

[katinmn]

1. I believe it. We're living in an age of rampant bribery and extortion

With criminally insane people leading the country we can expect to see more of this.:+

I expect the RNC will soon be exposed for keeping Congressmembers silent through blackmail.

It's about all that's left.

[autorank]

4. I agree. The power structure is corrupt. Maybe this "scandal" silenced

a few people.

June 29, 1989. Washington Times breaks "call boy" scandal -- shocker!!!

[katinmn]

24. Yes, perhaps in our lifetime this may yet get a thorough review

Wouldn't you like to know how much money Reagan, Bush, Dole et al paid to buy off the boys' lawyers and "care givers?"

[mom cat]

5. I think that much of the Dem "spinelessness" might have its roots in

blackmail. Somebody is surely jerking their chains and it ain't their constituents! It is the only explanation that I have for the Democratic sellout votes on Alito, bankruptsy, etc.unless they are getting paid off too!

[Burried News]

10. agree

[niallmac]

17. If that is the case and the country and the democracy are at stake..

then someone has to place self behind national interest and say they are mad as hell and they aren't going
to take it anymore. Our reps are first and foremost the standard bearers of our freedoms.
I do not vote for these people in order that they can have a better health plan than I
and live eternally in perk ville.
I want them to serve the Constitution first and foremost before anyone and anything else.
True, I was severely influenced by the Boy Scouts in my youth but
that's what I believe.

[mom cat]

23. Our reps part of the problem. Whether it is through fear of blackmail,

greed or sheer love of power, our reps have caved into the demands of the mega-rich and turned their backs on their constituents. We can't count on them to be boy scouts or girl scouts anymore. We have to let them know that if they do not stand up to the tyrant who would even consider using nukes then we will fight like hell to defeat them and take our country back.

[dalaigh lllama]

34. Blackmail, yes.

That's about the only reason I can see for all the complicity in Congress with this evil administration. That, or greed beyond belief.

[brentspeak]

2. dupe

[autorank]

3. Not a dupe..First one was pulled & I was asked to re Post. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

7. He undoubtedly remembered posting on one of these threads yesterday.

NY Post Columnist solicits bribe from Clinton billionaire friend.
Topic started by Democrat 4 Ever on Apr-07-06 12:29 PM (4 replies)
Last modified by Democrat 4 Ever on Apr-07-06 12:46 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=872159

The billionaire, the Post and the $220G shakedown
Topic started by NorthernSun on Apr-07-06 12:59 PM (6 replies)
Last modified by Mabus on Apr-07-06 02:30 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=872808

NY Post columnist probed over alleged extortion
Topic started by Judi Lynn on Apr-07-06 06:31 PM (2 replies)
Last modified by brentspeak on Apr-07-06 06:51 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=876353

Gossip writer accused of extortion plot against billionaire
Topic started by Thankfully_in_Britain on Apr-08-06 05:55 AM (3 replies)
Last modified by leftyladyfrommo on Apr-08-06 09:14 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=880590

N.Y. Post Suspends Page Six Contributor
Topic started by AGENDA21 on Apr-08-06 08:53 AM (3 replies)
Last modified by XanaDUer on Apr-08-06 09:14 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=879718

They were all sent directly to General Discussion.

On edit: It IS a VERY serious story with political significance, even though it involves a gossip columnist, and (yuck) a Murdoch publication.

[autorank]

8. It is the NYT after all (and not Miller;). Today's my lucky day.

The mod was very helpful to me in overcoming my "performance anxiety" about LBN,
where I consistently screw up. I'm about to go to a "bumbling poster" 1/2 way house for
further rehab.

Wish me luck :hide:

[katinmn]

21. I have LBN performance anxiety also.

Only a couple of my threads have survived there so I have almost given up ever being first. And people will spend innordinate amounts of time gathering evidence of a screw-up. }(

I'm glad you made this post today, though. I wasn't around yeasterday and would have missed it!

[autorank]

9. You're right it is serious. Read it carefully, worth the time.

There is so much "between the lines." It's actually a gem for that sort of thing.

This is what the press would do way back. They'd break a story and leave the more
serious reader with cool questions. They they'd follow up as they got enough facts
to support the implications "between the lines." If that's the case here, these guys
are going to win a Pulitzer.

I'm going to write my take on this later in GDP after I get some facts.

What a sleaze ball operation Murdoch's empire is. I have major questions about the
viability of the whole empire. I wish someone with real finance skills would clue us
in on that. I bet the guy has one big house of cards and this seeming extortion thing
is about the only real "profit" that they have. But then again, I'm a bit biased on
the matter.

[Burried News]

11. Everybody needs to read this. K&R

Second tier protection - rat out your friends and aquaintances.

[autorank]

12. The implications are appaling!!! WTF is going on.

Stern used to be a big shot at "The Star". http://www.stluciastar.com/


Who owns that?

[Judi Lynn]

15. I hope this story DOES stay in LBN, because it is so serious & political.

It's exactly what you'd expect from an unscrupulous right-wing paper. They just don't have the sensibility, discipline, respect for the truth to do responsible journalism.

Is it not possible there was an actual PLAN to cut the legs from under as many vulnerable Democratic wealthy political backers as possible? Once they decide to live without standards, the sky's the limit to what they can do to damage the opposition.

[autorank]

20. Best summary quote on why they "win"...

"Once they decide to live without standards, the sky's the limit to what they can do to damage the opposition." I've tried to say it in a number of ways, but this is perfect!

[paineinthearse]

6. Interstate extortion is a federal FELONY

Go directly to jail, do not collect $200.

[quiet.american]

13. Sounds like a classic "Murder, She Wrote" episode. n/t

[Renew Deal]

14. This story is unreal.

I read the NY Daily News version yesterday and was stunned. The NY Post is crap.

Here is the story I read. http://www.nydailynews.com/04-07-2006/news/story/406795p-344411c.html

Here's today's story. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/story/407074p-344669c.html

[tishaLA]

28. Those are amazing stories

That man is one of the slimiest people outside the current WH regime I have ever heard of.

[Judi Lynn]

16. The NY Times story is excellent. What about Stern's own words,

"We know how to destroy people," Mr. Stern said, according to a person reading a transcript of the meeting. "It's what we do. We do it without creating liability. That's our specialty."

It would be appropriate if this story triggers a deeper investigation of the N.Y. Post, and Murdoch.

[nicknameless]

18. You don't suppose NSA's data-mining came up with any info that's

being funneled to a Murdock operation, do you? Blackmail is a favorite sport/tool of the * cabal.

[autorank]

19. Why...cough cough...I'd never suspect that! n/t ;)

[dalaigh lllama]

27. Well, aren't you the suspicious one!

That was my very first thought when I read this.
Just how and where was he getting all this pricey "dirt" on his victims?

[nicknameless]

29. To paraphrase Paul Revere: Anyone who isn't suspicious these days

isn't paying attention.

[C_U_L8R]

22. I wonder if FAUX is shaking people down too

Murdoch is real pond scum...
they don't make em more disgusting than him

[mitchum]

25. Is Steven Bing the one who is being extorted?

[lovuian]

26. They have a racket going on don't they

Murdoch prints the scum against the Democrats and Republicans get a pass...

Loosing the public's trust is a terrible thing to do...

[paineinthearse]

30. Sunday

:kick:

[Burried News]

31. Yellow Journalism isn't bad enough. These guys are at the tip

of their spear. The papers involved need to be handled just the way Grace and GE are when they polute the environment. A few 50 million dollar fines might get their attention. Newspaper shakedowns are an old story that need periodic exposure for immunization purposes.

[autorank]

32. In Depth Analysis from Our Investigative Team -- Breaking;)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2561051

[NorthernSun]

33. 'You need a real friend' (FBI sting against NY Post)

The March 31 meeting was the second between the two. Burkle's end of the conversation was directed by his attorneys, FBI agents and an assistant U.S. Attorney.

Burkle: "What happens if three months from now you come back to me ... how do I have comfort that is not what happens?"

Stern: "Uhm, well, I mean, it is not a stickup, I am not going to keep coming back to you for something unless there's you know, more to it."

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/407384p-344863c.html

[Blue_Tires]

35. you add this little 'incident'

to the one last year (RW columnists like Armstrong Williams accepting cash from the bush admin to pimp their policies) and it makes you wonder how much deeper it goes

[Judi Lynn]

36. Exclusive: Gossip Writer Says, 'I Was Set Up"

Exclusive: Gossip Writer Says, 'I Was Set Up"
Paul Stern Claims Billionaire Targeted Him

By CHRIS CUOMO, RICHARD ESPOSITO and CHRIS FRANCESCANI



Writer Jared Paul Stern has been
suspended from the New York Post
while federal authorities investigate
allegations he tried to extort money
from a California billionaire. He claims
he was the target of a setup.(Getty
Images/Astrid Stawiarz)


April 9, 2006 — Embattled New York Post gossip writer Jared Paul Stern has come out swinging against the billionaire he's been accused of trying to extort $220,000 from in return for favorable coverage on the powerful gossip page.

Stern told ABC News, "I was the one who was targeted,'' claiming he was "set up'' by supermarket magnate Ron Burkle.

Stern said that Burkle contacted him last summer through a mutual friend in an effort to reduce the number of negative items appearing about him on Page Six.

On a videotape recorded by Burkle's security cameras and partially transcribed in The New York Daily News, Stern is reportedly heard describing working with the Post's Page Six as a "little like the mafia … a friend of yours is a friend of mine."
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1823404&page=1

[Blue_Tires]

37. ttt one more time

[Fierce]

38. Pay closer attention!

Burkle is also the one who is trying to help finance a worker-friendly buyout of the "orphan" Knight Ridder papers.