NPR has released a statement condemning remarks made by Betsy Liley, its senior director of institutional giving, who was caught on yet another secretly recorded tape by conservative activist wunderkind James O’Keefe telling a prospective (and fake) Muslim donor that a donation to NPR might be shielded from the IRS.
Also read: James O'Keefe, NPR-Slayer: What Kind of Journalist is This?
On the tape, published by O’Keefe on Thursday, Liley is pressed by a representative for the fake Muslim group about getting a tax break for the $5 million donation it was supposedly mulling.
Via a transcript:
Fake group representative: “It sounded like you were saying that NPR would be able to shield us from a government audit — is that correct?”
Liley: “I think that is the case, especially if you were anonymous, and I can inquire about that.”
Liley, who was with NPR’s former fundraising head Ron Schiller at O’Keefe’s lunch video sting, was placed on administrative leave on Tuesday, when the tape leaked. (Schiller resigned, and NPR CEO Vivian Schiller — no relation to Ron – was ousted the next day.)
Here’s NPR’s statement on the latest tape, via spokeswoman Dana Davis Rehm:
The statement made by Betsy Liley in the audiotapes … 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.
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.
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.
The new tape comes on the same day a group of NPR journalists released an open letter to listeners condemning the taped executives’ actions.
To say it's been a rough week for NPR would be an understatement.