Air America admits to ongoing investigation

[PW]

Fox news has the story:

Funding Air America

New York City's Department of Investigations has shut down millions of dollars in city contracts to the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club after allegations of corruption. Part of the inquiry involves allegations that the community center's founder invested some city funds in the liberal radio network, Air America (search).

The Bronx News reports that hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were diverted to Air America's former management company in the form of a loan, which was to be paid back with interest but was not. An Air America spokesman says, "We're committed to paying this money and the terms are being worked out... We are awaiting direction from the investigation into how to proceed."


Link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164165,00.html

 

[dampier]

> "We're committed to paying this money and
> the terms are being worked out... We are awaiting direction
> from the investigation into how to proceed."

This is the operational quote. Air America doesn't "admit" to an ongoing investigation, nor is there anything in that article that says Air America Radio itself is being investigated and/or accused of any wrongdoing (except by right wing blogs and Newsmax.)

However, Evan Cohen better supersize his attorney, along with those handling those city contracts.

 

[PW]

The New York Sun, if not The New York Times, has done some reporting on this matter and puts the total "giving" to AAR from the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club at around $800,000 (with even more to Mr. Cohen). (link below) Note that in this story (contrary to some posts here) "A spokeswoman for the Department of Investigations, Emily Gest, said the organization does not comment on continuing investigations." Seems that this horse may be rather healthy.

Link: http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=17846

 

[PW]

The New York Sun talks to Al Franken

The New York Sun talks to Al Franken (excerpt):

Mr. Franken said he has learned details of the story only in the last week. He said Piquant LLC, current owner and operator of the radio network, found a record of the transfers while conducting a "forensic" investigation into the finances of the previous owner, Progress Media, which was run by Mr. Cohen. That internal probe was conducted before the city agency became involved, Mr. Franken said. Efforts by The New York Sun to reach Mr. Cohen for comment in recent days have been unsuccessful.

A Piquant spokesman said yesterday that Gloria Wise would be compensated regardless of the amount of money it transferred. Mr. Franken said he did not know if money from Gloria Wise had been absorbed by the network and used to finance its operations. He said Piquant's payments to Gloria Wise were scheduled to begin this month but were prevented from going through while the city investigation continued.

A spokesman for the Department of Investigation, Keith Schwam, said that if Air America discovered the transfers before the city probe began, "They neglected to tell anyone at DOI or in the city about it."

Full story: http://www.nysun.com/article/17921

No word on whether The New York Times (or most of the rest of the MSM) has talked to anyone about this story.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by PW on 08/02/05 12:22 PM.</FONT></P>

 

[doc9464]

> The New York Sun, if not The New York Times, has done some
> reporting on this matter and puts the total "giving" to AAR
> from the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club at around $800,000
> (with even more to Mr. Cohen). (link below) Note that in
> this story (contrary to some posts here) "A spokeswoman for
> the Department of Investigations, Emily Gest, said the
> organization does not comment on continuing investigations."
> Seems that this horse may be rather healthy.
>
> Link: http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=17846
>

Are you so much of an investigator when Rush was discovered to be a doctor shopper...did you dig with detail into every niche and cranny to discover details about Rushs real crime? I doubt it......

As much as you want to see any of the current AAR people to be involved it wont happen ...sorry I know you want to see AAR burned but it wont happen

 

[JohnnyMorganWXJX]

> > "We're committed to paying this money and
> > the terms are being worked out... We are awaiting
> direction
> > from the investigation into how to proceed."
>
> This is the operational quote. Air America doesn't "admit"
> to an ongoing investigation, nor is there anything in that
> article that says Air America Radio itself is being
> investigated and/or accused of any wrongdoing (except by
> right wing blogs and Newsmax.)
>
> However, Evan Cohen better supersize his attorney, along
> with those handling those city contracts.
>

Just so this isn't a widescale anti-right wing screed on this thread, National Review and NY Post columnist John Podhoretz posted this comment on the Air America thing at NRO's blog "The Corner" today (for the record, I agree with him, and most everyone here as this being no big deal for Franken and the current AAR management):

"For everyone rooting against Air America Radio in the delicious story of the finagling of public funds from a children's charity, it's only fair to leave Al Franken out of it. Evan Cohen, the guy who ran the place at the beginning, stiffed Franken for his salary and that of others and was run out of the place on a rail. The whole business is unsavory and sounds like it might have been criminal, but -- as they say in showbiz -- don't blame the talent."