Thursday, September 08, 2005
Unidentified Air America Sugar Daddy Pays Up, Sort Of
Michelle Malkin follows up on her report, "INSIDE AIR AMERICA: AL FRANKEN'S LYING LIES" with news that Air America has rolled over under the pressure created by Malkin and Maloney's unrelenting scrutiny and topped up the piddling fifty grand they tried to pass off as a "payment" to the Gloria Wise organisation, but which was actually placed in escrow under the exclusive control of Air America lawyers. They've added the remaining 825,000 bucks to that escrow account, but don't expect them to release it to its rightful owners, the people Air America stole it from, any time soon:
Nine months after acknowledging the liability in a signed settlement agreement with the network's former owners, Air America Radio wired $825,000 into an escrow account for the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, the New York Sun and New York Post report today.
The escrow account is controlled by Air America's lawyers. Air America says it will release the money in the account to Gloria Wise when the city Deparment of Investigations "completes its work and authorizes payment." Last month, in the wake of negative publicity over the shady deal, Air America deposited $50,000 to the account.
So far, there is no indication how Air America, which claimed to be unable to pay any more than the original fifty grand, has suddenly managed to come up with the rest of their ill-gotten gains, but it would not be surprising to find it takes the form of yet another private loan, this time from a more willing party, someone with a vested interest in seeing this whole damned thing just disappear. Perhaps Stuart Smalley's undying quest for the truth will lead him to discover this mysterious benefactor's identity so that he may share it with the rest of us.
Meanwhile, the DOI in New York has announced it is sitting on Air America's back until they come clean (Emily Gest at DOI has confirmed to me by phone that the announcement will be up on the DOI site within twenty-four hours):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: EMILY GEST 212-825-5931 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 STATEMENT FROM DOI REGARDING AIR AMERICA'S REPAYMENT OF $875,000 During the course of DOI's investigation into allegations that officials at Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club had falsified documents submitted to various City agencies and had approved significant inappropriate transactions, DOI discovered that Gloria Wise had transferred $875,000 to Air America. DOI asked Air America to repay the $875,000 to an escrow account controlled by DOI. Thereafter, Air America repaid only $50,000 to an escrow account that is not controlled by DOI. DOI is pleased that Piquant LLC, the current owner of Air America, has agreed to DOI's request that, in lieu of making $50,000 quarterly payments, Piquant transfer the full $875,000 to the escrow account. While the total reimbursement reportedly has been made, DOI does not control the escrow account, although Air America's attorneys have represented that the money will only be disbursed with DOI's authorization. DOI's investigation is ongoing.
DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country. The agency investigates and refers for prosecution City employees and contractors engaged in corrupt or fraudulent activities or unethical conduct. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City.
Nine months after acknowledging the liability in a signed settlement agreement with the network's former owners, Air America Radio wired $825,000 into an escrow account for the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club, the New York Sun and New York Post report today.
The escrow account is controlled by Air America's lawyers. Air America says it will release the money in the account to Gloria Wise when the city Deparment of Investigations "completes its work and authorizes payment." Last month, in the wake of negative publicity over the shady deal, Air America deposited $50,000 to the account.
So far, there is no indication how Air America, which claimed to be unable to pay any more than the original fifty grand, has suddenly managed to come up with the rest of their ill-gotten gains, but it would not be surprising to find it takes the form of yet another private loan, this time from a more willing party, someone with a vested interest in seeing this whole damned thing just disappear. Perhaps Stuart Smalley's undying quest for the truth will lead him to discover this mysterious benefactor's identity so that he may share it with the rest of us.
Meanwhile, the DOI in New York has announced it is sitting on Air America's back until they come clean (Emily Gest at DOI has confirmed to me by phone that the announcement will be up on the DOI site within twenty-four hours):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: EMILY GEST 212-825-5931 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005 STATEMENT FROM DOI REGARDING AIR AMERICA'S REPAYMENT OF $875,000 During the course of DOI's investigation into allegations that officials at Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club had falsified documents submitted to various City agencies and had approved significant inappropriate transactions, DOI discovered that Gloria Wise had transferred $875,000 to Air America. DOI asked Air America to repay the $875,000 to an escrow account controlled by DOI. Thereafter, Air America repaid only $50,000 to an escrow account that is not controlled by DOI. DOI is pleased that Piquant LLC, the current owner of Air America, has agreed to DOI's request that, in lieu of making $50,000 quarterly payments, Piquant transfer the full $875,000 to the escrow account. While the total reimbursement reportedly has been made, DOI does not control the escrow account, although Air America's attorneys have represented that the money will only be disbursed with DOI's authorization. DOI's investigation is ongoing.
DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country. The agency investigates and refers for prosecution City employees and contractors engaged in corrupt or fraudulent activities or unethical conduct. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City.
