A week of high-profile apologies, a firing, and the case of missing emails.
The Duke apology
First, charges against three Duke University lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a stripper last spring were thrown out by the North Carolina attorney general, who called the prosecutor in the case “unchecked.” Both the NAACP and a national rape and abuse group supported the outcome. The prosecutor, who apologized to the boys on Thursday, was up for re-election when they were arrested.
The Imus apology
Also on Thursday, another racially charged fiasco was swiftly resolved. Don Imus, a veteran radio broadcaster, shock jock, and member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, was fired—first from MSNBC where his radio show was simulcast, then from CBS. Why? On his April 4 broadcast, Imus made racially disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, finalists in the Women’s NCAA Championship. Major advertisers pulled their support for Imus’ show and by Thursday he was off the air waves. Imus has apologized.
The Wolfowitz apology
World Bank employees want Paul Wolfowitz, the head of the bank, to resign for helping his girlfriend get a sweet job at the State Department. He says he’s sorry. Wolfowitz was once second in command at the Defense Department and has been at the World Bank since 2005. (What is the World Bank?)
The case of missing e-mails
Last month we wrote about the controversy swirling over the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. And next week Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is expected to testify in the matter. But the new news is that official White House emails—possibly related to the firings—are missing. Why? Apparently 50 employees or so used Republican National Committee email accounts to communicate rather than official White House accounts. This means some emails may not have been automatically saved as required by the Presidential Records Act, and could be lost. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy says he’s not buying it and wants the emails produced. Stay tuned.
The Duke apology
First, charges against three Duke University lacrosse players accused of sexually assaulting a stripper last spring were thrown out by the North Carolina attorney general, who called the prosecutor in the case “unchecked.” Both the NAACP and a national rape and abuse group supported the outcome. The prosecutor, who apologized to the boys on Thursday, was up for re-election when they were arrested.
The Imus apology
Also on Thursday, another racially charged fiasco was swiftly resolved. Don Imus, a veteran radio broadcaster, shock jock, and member of the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame, was fired—first from MSNBC where his radio show was simulcast, then from CBS. Why? On his April 4 broadcast, Imus made racially disparaging remarks about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, finalists in the Women’s NCAA Championship. Major advertisers pulled their support for Imus’ show and by Thursday he was off the air waves. Imus has apologized.
The Wolfowitz apology
World Bank employees want Paul Wolfowitz, the head of the bank, to resign for helping his girlfriend get a sweet job at the State Department. He says he’s sorry. Wolfowitz was once second in command at the Defense Department and has been at the World Bank since 2005. (What is the World Bank?)
The case of missing e-mails
Last month we wrote about the controversy swirling over the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. And next week Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is expected to testify in the matter. But the new news is that official White House emails—possibly related to the firings—are missing. Why? Apparently 50 employees or so used Republican National Committee email accounts to communicate rather than official White House accounts. This means some emails may not have been automatically saved as required by the Presidential Records Act, and could be lost. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy says he’s not buying it and wants the emails produced. Stay tuned.
