Did Paul Crichton have his hand in the cookie jar?

Because that sure seems to be what Page Six is implying this morning:

Tongues wagged when Paul Crichton, public relations director of publishing powerhouse Judith Regan, suddenly quit his job two weeks ago without explanation. But now Paula Conway, Regan Media’s interim p.r. director, says Crichton left the day Regan questioned him about unauthorized spending in his department. “Judith was contacted by HarperCollins about Paul’s department being overbudget,” Conway said. “Judith asked Paul to document everything and later that night, at like midnight, he cleaned out his desk and we haven’t heard from him since. He is under investigation by HarperCollins.”

Well now that “bearing no ill will” quote seems even more ominous, doesn’t it? Of course, it’s nice to see that the Sixers did some digging, considering NY media hardly covered the exit when it actually happened….

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