NY Post columnist suspended over extortion allegation
{{date|April 11, 2006}}
{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
The ''[[w:New York Post|New York Post]]'' has suspended gossip columnist [[w:Jared Paul Stern|Jared Paul Stern]] pending an FBI investigation into allegations that he tried to extort money from billionare Ron Burkle. Stern has denied the allegation. 

Stern contributes to Page Six, the ''New York Post''s gossip and celebrity news section. The allegation first appeared in the ''[[w:New York Daily News|New York Daily News]]'', the ''Post'''s long-standing rival. The ''Daily News'' reported that, in a sting operation, Stern was videotaped asking Burkle for cash, in exchange for weeding out negative stories on Burkle. 

The ''Post'' said that it is cooperating with the federal investigation. 

<!--
statement from Jared's attorney, to be incorporated into the text.

"Jared did not and could not guarantee him good coverage or protect him from bad coverage," Hayes said of Stern's dealings with Burkle. "Jared made a mistake. He's sorry if it embarrassed the Post, and nothing actually happened, and hopefully it will be over and done with."
-->

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/04/08/MNGESI68L21.DTL
|title=Extortion probe of gossip reporter
|author=Campbell Robertson, William K. Rashbaum, Allison Hope Weiner, New York Times
|pub=San Francisco Chronicle 
|date=April 8, 2006
}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-04-07T172416Z_01_N07238269_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-POST.xml
|title=NY Post columnist probed over extortion allegation
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=April 7, 2006
}}

[[Category: United States]]
[[Category: Crime and law]]
[[Category: Media]]
The New York Post has suspended gossip columnist Jared Paul Stern pending an FBI investigation into allegations that he tried to extort money from billionare Ron Burkle. Stern has denied the allegation. 

Stern contributes to Page Six, the New York Posts gossip and celebrity news section. The allegation first appeared in the New York Daily News, the Post's long-standing rival. The Daily News reported that, in a sting operation, Stern was videotaped asking Burkle for cash, in exchange for weeding out negative stories on Burkle. 

The Post said that it is cooperating with the federal investigation.
 United States  Crime and law  Media