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Scandals

Monday Jun 16, 2008

American Blogger Arrested, Held in Solitary By Singapore Police

CPS.MSU17.160608094632.photo00.quicklook.default-181x245.jpgTwo days after writing a blog post criticizing the practices of Singapore's
Judge Belinda Ang, Gopalan Nair, the Singapore Dissident, found himself arrested by the country's police force and held in solitary confinement for five days.

Nair, an American citizen who has a law practice in California, was planning to leave Singapore on June 3. He explains the back story and his time in prison in a subsequent post:

I was ordered to change into prison clothes and taken in handcuffs to a cell. From that moment I was kept in solitary confinement alone in a cell. The light was kept on 24 hours. There was no bed or even a mattress on the floor. I had to sleep on a hard floor. Although it can become cold there was no blanket. Unable to withstand the cold, I began shivering uncontrollably. I asked for a blanket from a passing guard. He provided it. This was on the 3rd or the 4th day of my confinement. Truly, it was not a blanket at all. It was a thin plastic sheet, which was not even long enough even to cover your feet. It did not keep you warm. But anything was better than shivering.

Nair says free speech and expression are at the heart of the matter:

It appears to me as well as anyone watching this case that what the Singapore authorities are trying to say is this. Do not criticize the Singapore judiciary no matter what. Even if the Singapore judiciary were to say, two and two is ten, the Moon is made of cheese and Christmas Day does not fall on December 25th, we have to keep our mouths shut and go about our business as if nothing happened!

Nair, who was charged with insulting a public servant and has been released on bail, denies sending emails to Ang.

Thursday Apr 24, 2008

Hacker on News Corp. Payroll for 10 Years

murdoch_wideweb__470x336,0.jpgRupert Murdoch, apparently not content to destroy The Wall Street Journal and Newsday (and, in the process, The New York Times) has resorted to hiring hackers. From our friends at Reuters (via Mashable):

A computer hacker testified on Wednesday that a News Corp. unit hired him to develop pirating software, but denied using it to penetrate the security system of a rival satellite television service. Christopher Tarnovsky — who said his first payment was $20,000 in cash hidden in electronic devices mailed from Canada — testified in a corporate-spying lawsuit brought against News Corp's NDS Group by DISH Network Corp.

The plaintiffs claim Tarnovsky, one of the "two best hackers in the world," was tasked with hacking into DISH's satellite network and stealing code which would then allow the NDS Group to flood the market with knock-off smart cards. Had he succeeded, the estimated cost to DISH would have been $900 million.

Tarnovsky says he's been on the Harper Collins payroll for the past 10 years.

UPDATE: We called Erin Crum, director of corporate communications at Harper Collins, for comment. She was unaware of the story and said she call us back. After waiting 30 minutes, we called her back and she said she had no comment, citing the fact that "it's a News Corp. lawsuit." Calls to News Corp.'s PR have yet to be returned.

UPDATE: Teri Everett, senior vice president corporate affairs & communications, emails us the following statement:

Statement from NDS on Echostar Litigation

The Echostar litigation dates back to 2002 and involves allegations which NDS has vigorously denied. Our position remains the same. There is no validity to these allegations. A significant proportion of the claims have already been dismissed over the years.

The litigation process and associated discovery have only strengthened NDS' position that we had nothing to do with the Echostar piracy. The hacking of Echostar was the result of inferior technology arising from inadequate investment in research and development by Kudelski. NDS, on the other hand, invests heavily in research and development — at that time we reinvested over 30 percent of our revenues into R&D — and the result is that we have zero piracy and the platforms of our customers are completely secure.

We are confident our position will be upheld at trial.


Friday Mar 28, 2008

"Washingtonienne" Jessica Cutler Working As An Escort

0328washingtonienne.jpgRemember Jessica Cutler? You know, "Washingtonienne"?

The Senate aide-turned-sex blogger had her 15 minutes of fame a few years back when Wonkette discovered her story and outed her? Remember afterwards when Cutler and Ana Marie Cox were BFFs for two days? And then how Cutler released a book that sunk like a lead zepplin?

It looks like she's working as an escort these days. The New York Post discovered that Cutler is listed as an escort by NYC-based Wicked Models, operated by the Eliot Spitzer-linked Kristin "Billie" Davis.

Unfortunately, the Wicked Models site is borked right now, but that's Cutler's picture to the right. Here's her description:

Brooke is an All-American brunette with long dark hair and big green eyes. She has the benefits of an Ivy League education. With her good looks and background, she is a great companion for any gentleman. Rates start at $1,000 per hour, please call or email to schedule: 212-xxx-xxxx - xxx@hotmail.com

Incall available to select clients.

Google cache available here.

Thursday Mar 20, 2008

Darlene Rodriguez Stands By Accused Rapist Hubby

Darlene Rodriguez's police officer husband being accused of rape... We've covered it before.

It turns out that, yesterday, she accompanied husband David Rodriguez when he turned himself in on charges relating to raping a 17-year-old-girl.

The host of Today in New York told her fellow reporters, "I just want to say I know a lot of you and a lot of you know me. I'm here to support my husband [...] I believe in him. I love him. He's innocent 100 percent."

The 17-year-old girl he allegedly raped was also able to distinguish identifying features of his genitalia, including a shaved pubic area. Uhh, Darlene... he might not be "innocent 100 percent." Hate to tell ya, but it kind of sounds like he's not.

Also, for the sake of disclosure, the 17-year-old was living with a 35-year-old boyfriend who was rumored to be a drug dealer and who had just been arrested for assaulting her. One thing is for sure: There is more to this story than what has been reported.

Friday Mar 14, 2008

Restaurateurs Discover Spitzer + The News Cycle = Fun

0314resto2.jpg

0314resto1.jpg

Over at Eater they just obtained a pic of the Client #9 on tap over the popular Lower East Side bar/restaurant (heh) Spitzer's Corner. Meanwhile, Gobble snapped a pic of this wonderful sign at Eisenberg's Sandwich shop and did a genius interview with owner Josh Konecky to boot:

Me: So, who came up with the sandwich?

Josh Konecky, owner [He is wearing his customary ponytail, and a loud
shirt bearing the print of hundreds of swirling cups of coffee]: Spitzer came up with it. [pause]. No, I came up with it. Did you already order?

Me: Yeah. I didn't order the tongue.

Konecky: What'd you order? The chicken?

Me: No, the roast beef.

Konecky: A lot of people don't like tongue. Tongue is delicious! Funny how people will eat one part of the cow, but not another.

Me: So how many have you sold today?

Konecky: A couple. [Gestures to the lunch counter]. Someone's eating one over there right now. [Another regular walks in.] Jim, you gonna order The Spitzer?

Jim: [Looks up at a neon orange sign advertising the sandwich, "You
just gotta try Sandwich No. 9," clenches fist, grins and softly taps
the counter with his fist]. Yeah, I'll have mine with mustard!

Previously: Bars & The News Cycle II: Spitzer Drink Special Edition

Tuesday Mar 04, 2008

Conrad Black: Officially A Jailbird

As previously reported, Conrad Black is now Prisoner 18330-424 of the Coleman Federal Corrections Institute. You see, due to Black's foreign citizenship he's viewed as a "criminal alien" — which bars him from Martha Stewart-style prison camps. Instead, he's being sent to a minimum security prison. Portfolio visited Coleman and found out what Lord Black can look forward to:

Black is said to be quite fit these days, and there's good news at Coleman on that front: There are aerobics classes, stationary bicycles, a music center with a piano, drums, guitar and accordion, pool tables, boccie ball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and a ping-pong table. The hobby craft center offers beadwork and leatherwork.

Meanwhile, the Silicon Alley Insider is using Black's incarceration to call for internet access in jail. We're not opposed to it in theory — but something tells us that the SAI's Henry Blodget is unaware of the expensive collect call rates that cost the families of American prisoners an average of $3-$5 for a 15 minute telephone call — something that effects rehabillitation rates much more.

Friday Feb 29, 2008

Conrad Black Is Prisoner 18330-424

Andy Warhol portrait of Conrad Black

The rich go to prison in much different circumstances than you or me.

Conrad Black is officially heading to jail. He was denied bail on Thursday, while his two co-defendants were allowed to remain free on bond. Black's first day in prison will be Monday.

Starting on Monday, Conrad Black will become Prisoner 18330-424 of the Coleman Federal Corrections Institute. However, before he enters the pen, Black is throwing a farewell party at his Palm Beach mansion. Meanwhile, his wife Lady Black is celebrating capitalism:

"She has bought a dog, which is a big thing in her life. They were both getting on fabulously well. She has probably been prepared for a bad ending longer than he has. She tends to be more pessimistic," he said.

The Palm Beach Daily News reported in its gossip column that Lady Black had spent $250,000 on the new collection by fashion designer Oscar de la Renta.

Well, that's what happens when you commit white collar crime.

Thursday Feb 28, 2008

New Abu Ghraib Pictures Leaked To Media

0228abughraib1.jpg

LINKED PHOTOS BELOW NSFW.

Website Wired.com has obtained a cache of previously unreleased pictures from Abu Ghraib. The pictures were given to the magazine by psychologist Philip Zimbardo, the man behind the Stanford Prison Experiment and an expert defense witness for court-martialed Abu Ghraib guard Chip Frederick. Zimbardo was giving a lecture at the Monterey, CA TED Conference, which Wired.com is liveblogging.

The photo set Wired.com acquired contains pictures of American soldiers posing with decaying corpses, prisoners covered in feces, prisoners being attacked by dogs, prisoners being forced into simulated sex acts and various depictions of torture. Again, NSFW.

(Obdisc: This editor has written for Wired.com in the past.)

(Image via Wired.com)

Monday Feb 25, 2008

McCaingate: Monday Edition

We briefly mentioned earlier that New York Times ombudsman Clark Hoyt publicly slammed Bill Keller over the John McCain affair article. Hoyt sampled some of the reaction the newspaper received from readers:

Marilyn Monaco of Philadelphia, one of more than 2,400 readers to comment on The Times's Web site, said the newspaper "has sunk below its standards and created a salacious distraction from an otherwise substantive campaign. And for the record, I am an Obama supporter." Terry Bledsoe of Sun Lakes, Ariz., said, "I am most disappointed in The New York Times for engaging in this sort of trash-the-candidate journalism." A minority of readers applauded the article. "Bravo to The Times for integrity and guts," said Rick Gore of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

However, NYU's Jay Rosen claims that the Times was (barely) within their moral rights by publishing the piece even as a Fox News pundit called for Bill Keller to step down. Ex-Wonkette Megan Carpentier has a whole lot to say over at Glamour, as well.

And finally, we're not going to write anything about Ralph Nader. Sorry.

Thursday Feb 21, 2008

New York Times Vs. McCain: The Fallout Begins!

0221mccain.jpgWe woke up this morning to find a detailed takedown piece of John McCain in the New York Times. Fine. But the article itself was a construct of smoke and mirrors that promised much and delivered little.

The Times implied that McCain was involved in a romantic relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman:

Mr. McCain, 71, and the lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, 40, both say they never had a romantic relationship. But to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity.

However, no evidence was given by the newspaper to support this. In the piece, the Times went on to criticize McCain for:

  • Flying on corporate jets of executives. (Which we all know politicians never, ever do)
  • Resigning as head of a non-profit that promoted his battle for the McCain-Feingold act because he was tapping corporate contributions at the same time. (Which we've known since, err, 2002)
  • Having ties to disgraced S&L king Charles Keating (In the 1980s!)

    What the hell were writers Jim Rutenberg, Marilyn W. Thompson, David D. Kirkpatrick and Stephen Labaton (along with exec editor Bill Keller) thinking? The article was part of a series of scandal pieces on presidential candidates... Much like February 9th's story on Barack Obama's past drug use, the piece brought up allegations that had been known for a while — but simultaneously offering nothing new.

    We'll be back to this piece shortly. In the meantime, Gawker, the Huffington Post (and how!) and the Daily Kos have all chimed in.

    Oh... and the story made the front page of the Daily News.

    Public flogging of Keller and speculation over McCain's future in 5...4...3...


  • Previously

    The J-School Dean, The Fishy Quote & The Romenesko Memo

    How To Get Your Charity In Page Six

    Meet The BBC's (Allegedly) Rapey, HIV+ Radio Presenter

    NY Sun: Cabbies Gained Access To Thousands Of CC #s Via Security Flaw

    Afghan Journalist Given Death Sentence... For Owning A Feminist Text

    Alycia Lane: The Magazine Article

    NY Press Sex Columnist Quits After Just One Column

    Where Next For Alycia Lane?

    Cop-Punching Reporter Gets Fired

    Have Freelancers Union Insurance? You Better Not Have That Stroke Until Friday.

    60-Year-Old Reader's Digest Employee Sues 8-Year-Old Boy

    Larry Flynt's Gay Senator: Readers Write In

    Who's Larry Flynt's Mystery Gay Senator?

    Cop-Punching Reporter Sparks Political Scandal

    Cop-Punching Reporter: "I Want The Governor!"

    WNBC Falsely Accuses 14 Baseball Players Of Drug Use

    Philly News Anchor's Wild, Cop-Attacking Night

    6.5 Years For Conrad Black

    Conrad Black To Be Sentenced Today

    Sam Champion Anthrax Mailer Unfit For Trial

    Did Newsweek Steal A Story From The Village Voice?

    When Journalists Attack (And Commit "Lewd Acts")

    Larry King Insurance Scandal?

    New York's Kurt Eichenwald Story....

    Susie Bright On Kurt Eichenwald

    Bad News For Cindy Adams

    MoveOn.Org To Pay The New York Times The Difference

    US Weekly Lawsuit: The Sexy Parts

    Kurt Eichenwald's Sad, Sad World

    Ex-ABC Consultant Lied About His Source, Too

    Fact Checkers for Alum Magazines?

    Rupert Murdoch Biography Under Fire

    To Catch a Predator, Hunted

    Did The Goldmans Approach Judith Regan?

    Imus Settlement, In Talks with WABC

    Sulzberger Girding For Murdoch Fight

    New York Filmmakers Fighting New Permit Laws

    Nan Talese: Oprah Exhibited 'Fiercely Bad Manners'

    CBS, Don Imus Near Settlement

    Sharpton, Imus Unite On Yahoo

    Countdown's 'Ho' Graphic: Olbermann's Done This Sort Of Thing Before

    NABJ: Keep Imus Off The Air

    A-Rod Book Signing To Be Held At Scores FAO Schwartz

    Did ABC Not Find Sitting, D.C. Madam-Frequenting U.S. Senator Newsworthy?

    Did Katie Couric Slap A Staffer?

    At Least It Was A Hybrid ...

    Ex-CBS News Producer To File $50M Sexual-Orientation Discrimination Lawsuit Against Network

    No 'Fire Fiend'? Post Passes On Braunstein

    Braunstein Sentencing To Begin Today ...

    Harold Reynolds Returns

    Conrad Black Spent $4.6M To Make Park Ave. Apt. 'Habitable'

    Koinange Fired For Paying Rebels? Or Personal Use Of CNN Email?

    Jared Paul Stern Returns To Gossip Writing, Blasts Daily News

    Virgin Mobile Installs NYC Neigborhood-Specific Ads In Wrong Neighborhoods

    Braunstein Trial Update: Katrina Gangs Included 'People Just Like Me'

    Braunstein Trial Update: 'I'm Going To Kill Anna Wintour'

    Imus Producer Takes On Sharpton: 'You Terrorized These Spineless, Thumbsucking Executives'

    Friends Blog To HBO Chief's Defense, Slam Press

    Braunstein Trial Update: Crime 'Not Substantial Enough To Grip Rest Of The Nation'

    Braunstein Trial Update: 'Close My Account Because I Have About Eight Weeks To Live'

    Braunstein Trial Update: Dad Thinks Peter's Just Like Seung-Hui Cho

    Braunstein Trial Update

    Russell Simmons: Bleep 'Bitch,' 'Ho,' And 'N*gger'

    Imus Snubs Larry King Party

    Post-Imus Hip-Hop Meeting Still In Progress

    CBS Says Unfair Labor Charges Filed By Writers Guild Are 'Baseless'

    Imus Fallout: Russell Simmons, Hip-Hop And Record Industry Leaders Call Closed-Door Meeting In New York

    Ron Allen On Imus: 'This Was On NBC News, Not Some Obscure Radio Station'

    Did Imus Deserve To Be Fired?

    Star Columnist: Imus Gave 'Black People An Excuse'

    CBS Cancels Imus: Memo From Moonves

    Frequent Guest Ana Marie Cox Drops Imus

    Imus Broadcasting Radio Show From MSNBC Studios

    MSNBC Drops Imus: The Heat Was Mounting All Day

    Will CBS Drop Imus Too?

    MSNBC Drops Imus: NBC Prez Plays Hardball

    MSNBC Drops Imus: NBC Prez Memo To Staff

    UPDATE: MSNBC Drops Imus

    Obama: Fire Imus

    IMUS UPDATE: Sopranos Actor Appears On Imus | Imus Says He Will 'Make Every Effort' To Hire Blacks | Advertisers Pull Out

    Should Imus Be Fired? You Are Undecided

    Rutgers To Meet With Imus: 'Deplorable, Despicable, Abominable, Unconscionable'

    NBC News Prez' Imus Memo: 'I Take Imus At His Word'

    Does MSNBC Have A Double Standard For Imus?

    NBC, CBS Radio Suspend Imus For Two Weeks

    Imus On Sharpton Show: 'I Can't Get Anywhere With You People'

    Poll: Should Imus Be Fired?

    Jews, Mexicans, Blind Black Musicians: Imus' History Of Hate Talk

    Imus' Cancer Ranch Defense

    Imus: 'I Am Not A Racist'

    Essence Editor: Imus Apology 'Unacceptable,' Deserve 'Severe Consequences'

    Imus Apologizes For 'Nappy 'Hos' Comment

    Imus Calls Rutgers' Women's Basketball Team 'Nappy-Headed 'Hos' | MSNBC Distances Itself

    Will Jared Paul Stern's Lawsuit Against Ron Burkle & Co. Botch Hillary's Prez Run?

    Finally: Jared Paul Stern Sues Billionaire Ron Burkle — Bill & Hillary Too

    ABC News Gets Journo Award For Outing Mark Foley

    Convicted Ex-SPD Head Turns Self In, Begins Prison Sentence

    'Why I Hate Blacks' Writer Pitched Story To Village Voice, NYT, Daily News

    'Why I Hate Blacks' Writer Not Sorry: 'If I'm A Racist Then So Is Sofia Coppola'

    Obamagate Fallout: Is Hillary's Communications Director On Way Out?

    Read more on FishbowlNY >

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