Armstrong Williams May Return Some DOE Money

[sabra]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001220417

Armstrong Williams May Return Some DOE Money

NEW YORK Commentator Armstrong Williams is in negotiations to possibly return a portion of the $240,000 he received from the U.S. Department of Education for promoting the Bush administration's education policies.

The negotiations were reported Monday in USA Today and verified Monday morning by E&P Online. "He's been in negotiations since the summer," said Shirley Daze, director of communications at the Graham Williams Group (GWG) in Washington, D.C. It is not known how much of the $240,000 might be returned, but Daze said it won't be the whole sum.

Williams was criticized for taking the money in a U.S. Government Accountability Office report released Friday (E&P Online, Sept. 30). The nonpartisan GAO said the Bush administration violated laws prohibiting the use of covert propaganda when it secretly paid the conservative broadcaster/columnist to promote its education policies without disclosing he was on the government's payroll.

Williams -- who was not immediately available for comment Monday -- told USA Today he was paid only to produce ads and said negotiations to return part of his fees stem from the fact that he didn't fulfill the part of the contract requiring him to promote the No Child Left Behind Act. But the GAO report said: "It is clear to us from the monthly reports and invoices provided by GWG that Mr. Williams promoted the NCLB Act at the behest of the Department and that he thought it was part of the contract."

[wtmusic]

1. What's to negotiate?

Just fucking give it back, you scumbag.

[Demeter]

2. Probably Immunity to Any Charges

[wtmusic]

6. The administration is more culpable than Williams

how could the DOJ file charges against Williams and not the DOE?

[jobycom]

3. Good. Phase II will be writing stories critical of Bush to counter the

bogus stories supporting Bush.

[goclark]

4. Hope my Brother realizes that they

treated him like he is an African American.

They haven't asked Halliburton to give back any money or Enron.


Look in the mirror my Brother, look in the mirror and see who you really are---a shill for Bushco.

[classysassy]

9. Brother

you are heavy,all that shit inside your pointed lil head.

[Montauk6]

5. Honor among thieves????

So, let me get this straight, he TOOK the money, and THEN welched on the deal???

:nopity: :applause: :applause: :rofl: :rofl:

[gratuitous]

7. Why would he give any of it back?

As I recall, Walletfat ("Armstrong" just seems like the wrong name for someone in such a position) claimed that he hadn't done anything wrong, and that he'd earned every penny. Why would he give any of it back?

Although I note that Judas Iscariot threw the 30 pieces of silver back to the chief priests. Maybe that's what Walletfat plans to give back: 30 dimes.

[BrainRants]

8. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the GAO find the payment was ILLEGAL?

If so, he should be required (under law...you know..that legal thing?) to return all of it? (plus interest?)

Afterall, a "moral" administration would agree.