Armstrong Williams has to pay $34K for not pushing enough propaganda

[ck4829]

Conservative pundit Armstrong Williams, whose 2003 deal to promote President Bush's education reforms on TV, radio and in newspapers spawned a government-wide crackdown on propaganda, will pay $34,000 for not delivering all that his contract required, according to documents signed Friday.

The settlement puts to rest a civil investigation that stretched more than a year and a half and could have cost Williams $64,000 — but which did not address whether he wrongly promoted the Bush administration's education agenda. Instead, the Justice Department investigation examined whether he was paid for public service ads he didn't produce.

Under the settlement, Williams admits no wrongdoing. He did not face criminal charges in the case, says Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office within the Justice Department.

"The (Education) Department is pleased to see this matter come to a close," Katherine McLane, spokesperson for Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said Friday. "As one of her first actions at the Department, Secretary Spellings took aggressive action to correct the situation and create clear guidelines to prevent future occurrences."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-20-williams_x.htm

[MADem]

1. Gee, whatever happened to that other lawsuit, where that guy sued him for

sexual harassment? There was this one, http://home.earthlink.net/~zkkatz/page88.html but I thought another one had cropped up, as well...?

It's getting hard to keep all these GOP scandals straight!!! No puns intended...!!!

[mrdmk]

2. Cue the theme music from the "Twilight Zone"

The Justice Department investigated why Mr. Williams did not complete the contract after the contract was suspended. I think I need Rod Sterlings' attorney to explain this one to me!

[Kagemusha]

3. Why should he be paid for work he didn't do?

Nevermind he couldn't do it. He didn't do it. So why should he just keep the money?

[mrdmk]

7. First and foremost, this was an illegal contract to begin with!

There are lawyers who look at these things before they signed and dated, if not on Armstrong side the government would definitely have a lawyer or two review the contract. If Armstrong had a lawyer review the contract and that lawyer said the contract looks good to me, Armstrong needs to fire that lawyer. If Armstrong did this without consulting a lawyer, then Armstrong is an idiot and to boot, he cannot plead ignorance because the law does not recognize that excuse!

On the government side, there needs to be a review of the contract process in this case. It was an illegal contract hands down, and the government cannot willingly present propaganda to the citizens of the U.S.A. This review has not been done.

What is going on here is "Whitewash 101". The Justice Department says we went to court and Armstrong returned the money, case closed. This is a criminal case and people need to go to jail and pay fines, both Armstrong and any government officials who participated in this contract. Having a court case and some money returned to the source of the contract does not right this wrong.

[Kagemusha]

9. I see your point. Far be it from me to argue this ends with repayment

Unfortunately it's a little hard to make the Justice Department enforce the laws it doesn't want to enforce...

[mrdmk]

10. SOP for the White House. Vote in November!

[louis-t]

4. This whole situation with paying journalists to spread propaganda

makes my hair hurt.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. Bad shill! BAD!! *slap* nt

[Richard Steele]

6. The whole deal is illegal, but they only fine him for NOT doin part of it?

Frickin' INSANE.
Just unbelievably, blatantly, in-yer-face CORRUPT.

[LTR]

8. Oh, that's just priceless!

A strong K+R!!!

[mrdmk]

11. K & R

:kick: