O’Keefe releases another NPR video
March 10, 2011
politico.com
Betsy Liley, the other NPR executive at the infamous video taped lunch with Ron Schiller at Café Milano, is the target of a second video released by James O’Keefe’s Project Vertas today.
The video shows Liley telling a member of the fake Muslim charity that NPR could, by accepting the proposed $5 million gift anonymously, shield the charity from a government audit of NPR's books.
“[The government has] audited our program, at times, and they have, I think as part of that, they have looked at our audited financials,” she tells the undercover activist by phone. “If you were concerned in any way about that, that’s one reason that you may want to be an anonymous donor. And we would certainly, if that was your interest, want to shield you from that.”
UPDATE: NPR released a statement condemning Liley’s statements in the video.
“The statement made by Betsy Liley in the audio tapes released today regarding the possibility of making an anonymous gift that would remain invisible to tax authorities is factually inaccurate and not reflective of NPR’s gift practices. All donations – anonymous and named – are fully reported to the IRS. NPR complies with all financial, tax and disclosure regulations.”
Liley, who was caught on the initial videotape laughing at the suggestion that NPR was sometimes called National Palestinian Radio, was placed on administrative leave with Ron Schiller on Tuesday afternoon.
“Through unequivocal words and actions, NPR has renounced and condemned the secretly recorded statements of Ron Schiller and Betsy Liley. Mr. Schiller is no longer with NPR and Ms. Liley has been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation of the matter,” the NPR statement continued.
“No stronger statement of disavowal and disapproval is possible. NPR will not be deterred from its news mission and will ultimately be judged by the millions and millions of listeners and readers who have come to rely on us every day.” |
