Keith Olbermann Apologizes to Viewers
NEW YORK (
) -- Keith Olbermann has issued a statement to his viewers, apologizing for the "unnecessary drama" that surrounded his
suspension from MSNBC
and thanking them for their "extraordinary and ground-rattling support."
The anchor will return to his political commentary show,
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
, on MSNBC tonight after he was suspended on Friday for contributing to the campaigns of three Democratic politicians. Those donations were found to violate
NBC News
rules.
|
"You should know that I mistakenly violated an inconsistently applied rule -- which I previously knew nothing about," Olbermann said in his statement on Tuesday. "I was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the media."
Last week, Olbermann acknowledged to NBC that he contributed the maximum individual donation of $2,400 to three candidates in Tuesday's election. He donated to the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grivalva and Gabrielle Giffords.
NBC News
, a division of
General Electric
(GE) - Get Report
and MSNBC's parent organization, prohibits political contributions by its journalists without prior approval of the president.
In a statement to
Politico
, which first reported the news, Olbermann said he "did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns nor to any others in this election or any previous ones." He also said that he had not "previously donated to any political campaign at any level."
When MSNBC President Phil Griffin learned of his political contributions on Friday he suspended Olbermann indefinitely without pay. Then in a statement issued late Sunday,
Griffin said he had decided to lift the suspension
.
"After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night," Griffin said.
"I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on
Countdown
on Tuesday, to begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty," Olbermann said in his letter to his viewers, "support and loyalty that is truly mutual."
-- Written by Theresa McCabe in Boston.
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>>MSNBC to Lift Olbermann Suspension
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