Keith Olbermann Suspended from MSNBC

Keith Olbermann, host of the MSNBC show, "Countdown With Keith Olbermann."

/ AP

Updated 2:38 p.m. Eastern Time

Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely without pay from MSNBC for making donations to three Democrats in violation of NBC's ethics policy.

"I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night," Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC, said in a statement. "Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay."

Olbermann, who does not hide his liberal views, has acknowledged donations of $2,400 each to Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords during this election cycle.

NBC's ethics policy generally bars political activity, including contributions, without the approval of the president of NBC News, Steve Capus, according to a 2007 story on MSNBC.com.

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest," it says. "Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee."

In a statement to Politico, which first reported the donations, that was released before the suspension was announced, Olbermann said: "I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others in this election or any previous ones, nor have I previously donated to any political campaign at any level."

The candidates Olbermann donated to had mixed results. Conway lost his race to Tea Party-backed Republican Rand Paul, but both Grijalva and Giffords lead in tight races that CBS News has not yet projected. All three appeared on Olbermann's show, and Grijalva has appeared multiple times.

As Politico notes, Olbermann and MSNBC President Phil Griffin have been critical of Fox News over its two $1 million donations to Republican and Republican-leaning groups during the midterm election cycle.

On October 7th, in reference to the Fox News donations, Olbermann asked House Majority Whip James Clyburn if there is a legislative response available when a cable news network "goes beyond having a point of view and actually starts to shill for partisan causes and actually starts to donate to partisan groups of one party."

MSNBC has cast itself as a liberal alternative to the conservative Fox News channel, a move that has helped the network improve its ratings, though not to the level of Fox News.

Liberal media watchdog Media Matters claims that "During the 2009-2010 election cycle, more than 30 Fox News personalities have endorsed, raised money, or campaigned for Republican candidates or organizations in more than 600 instances."

Many of these personalities are contributors like Karl Rove and Sarah Palin, not hosts, however, and not all of them gave money to candidates. Asked for a situation comparable to Olbermann, Media Matters pointed to Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and MIke Huckabee, among others. Hannity donated $5,000 to Rep. Michele Bachmann's political action committee and pledged donations to other candidates, and Huckabee's political action committee has given to a variety of candidates. 

The MSNBC story above detailing newsroom ethics rules says Fox News allows campaign contributions that do not come from corporate funds.

"Personal involvement in political activity is permitted as long as the activity does not interfere with or impair the performance of the employee's duties for the Company," says the company's 2007 ethics policy.

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Brian Montopoli is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[joehitch]

This Oberhousen only needs a red arm band with the approiate insigna to go with his black suits. Very scary!

[citizenusa-2009]

Why should he be punished? This is the land of the free!

Is this any different from CBS deleting any and all negative stories regarding Boehner?

Somebody's always on the "payroll". It happens everyday.

[d-ozzie]

While any chance to have Mr. Olbermann off the air is a welcome one, this seems really stupid. Mr. Olbermann backed three democratic candidates in the mid-term election. While he can do this, company policy requires him to obtain pre-approval, which he did not. The ethic in question is "jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist". REALLY? At what moment was Mr. Olbermann EVER impartial. He and Maddow are left end bookends to the Rush Limbaugh's of the right. He seems popular enough. People are known to flock to watch train wrecks and other carnage. And that is all the networks really care about. Perhaps his ratings have dipped and this was considered the best way to get more eyeballs back at Loony Liberal Central (MSNBC).

[dsimas06]

I could not have said this better myself. He is back on the air as I write this.

[bradkt1]

Keith, you screwed up, but you are still my man! You told the truth about the far right.

[NASKAR3]

Election Night I Laughed at The 5 Stooges for Trying to Set Up there Interviews with Rep. that Won There Elections. Three Days Later. I laughed Harder to Find Out OpeyDopey Was Released. Jobs Today are Privillages and If you have One you Better take Care of it. To be SO SMART How Could He Be So DUMB Thanks MSNBC

[Lee_Bellavance]

When I was a reporter for the Idaho Statesman, I almost lost my job too over allegations made by the American Nuclear Society of conflict of interest. My trangression? I had actually dug up and read some of the research that was being presented at a public meeting to assure the public of safety at the then-named Idaho National Engineering Lab. I noticed that it appeared the research was based on all-male subjects. When I asked at the meeting if 1. women were included, the response was a flustered "no." My follow up question of "Then, how can you assure the half of us here who are women that these exposures are safe for us?" is what almost cost me my head. The scientists sputtered that night but were soon on the horn complaining to my paper. The worst part was the focus shifted to conflict-of-interest instead of public safety. I wonder if the same thing would happen today.

[stedumz]

Again, the Citizens United case rears its bobble head. In this country, as in the past, so it is today. Money, dirt(not just the soil kind), and degrees of separation (for influence's sake) make for not-so-strange bedfellows. There is a vast difference between being rich and being wealthy: wealthy wins everytime, smarmy a close second

[K-S-EVANS]

WELL HERE IS ANOTHER SLAP IN THE FACE FOR FREE SPEACH. IF YOU ARE NOT A FOX NEWS ANCHOR YOU CAN'T SAY OR DO ANYTHING. KEITH IS AN ASSET TO MSNBC AND THEY KNOW IT. STOP PLAYING THE POLITIC GAME AND START WORRING ABOUT THIS COUNTRY WHILE WE STILL HAVE IT.

[liberalme]

THey guy that suspended Olbermann is a loyal Republican. Look it up.

[documemts]

Ownership of MSNBC donated 2.4 mil to George Bush for his campaign.

[infantryman1968]

Tonight on Countdown, Keith Olberman gets Bushhhhhhhed!