Scandal

The Hill reports: White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday deflected blame for the firestorm surrounding Michael Flynn, saying the ousted national security adviser received his security clearance from the Obama administration. Spicer signaled support for a Defense Department investigation into payments Flynn received from foreign groups in 2015, but blamed former President Obama’s team for clearing him. “My …

Patch reports: The White House is currently facing questions about former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and his ties to Russia. At the same time, the administration is immersed in heated debates over a tax reform, a health care overhaul and preventing a government shutdown — so there’s surely a lot to discuss.

Politico reports: The Pentagon’s inspector general is now investigating Michael Flynn over payments he received from foreign governments after retiring from the Army, according to documents released Thursday by the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. The documents also show the Defense Intelligence Agency warned Flynn after his 2014 retirement as the agency’s director that he was barred from …

“The situation is unprecedented. Never in American history has a man so close to the president, on his cabinet, the national security advisor no less, been accused of committing a crime by taking money from a foreign entity, much less one connected to the Russians. At the core of all this is the Russians interfered with our elections. General Flynn …

The Hill reports: Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday said that the House Oversight Committee’s latest findings that former national security adviser Michael Flynn might have broken the law “may be just the tip of the iceberg.” “The disturbing news that General Flynn may have violated the law in connection with his security clearance may be just the …

CNN reports: The White House declined Tuesday to provide documents related to President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser that the panel investigating Michael Flynn had requested, according to a letter obtained by CNN. White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short outlined in a letter to the House oversight committee how it would not complete the request from the …

Last night guest host Greg Gutfeld closed out the final airing of Bill O’Reilly’s long-running show, which has topped cable news rating for the last two decades. Here’s his message: “As for those of us who have been part of the Factor team, a personal note. Even as we look forward to the new beginnings, this is a sad day …

Hurling the N-word at black colleagues is where the Florida GOP draws the line, apparently. The Miami Herald reports: Sen. Frank Artiles resigned from the Florida Legislature on Friday, consumed by a scandal that erupted three days earlier over a diatribe of insults the Miami Republican unleashed against two lawmakers at a Tallahassee bar. In a letter to Senate President …

Via Mediaite: Sarah Palin used to work at Fox News, and when CNN’s Jake Tapper spoke with her this afternoon, he naturally brought up the big news about Fox and Bill O’Reilly‘s ousting this week. Palin said that the corporate culture at Fox “obviously has to change” because women shouldn’t have to put up with an “intimidating workspace.” Tapper asked …

CNN reports: Bill O’Reilly will be paid tens of millions of dollars on his way out of Fox News. “It is a staggering amount,” said a source personally involved in the exit maneuverings. 21st Century Fox and O’Reilly’s representatives will not acknowledge the existence of a payout. A confidentiality agreement limits what the two sides can say. But two well-placed …

Via Yahoo TV: In the wake of Fox News cutting ties with Bill O’Reilly after multiple sexual harassment allegations, Stephen Colbert shared a statement from Fox on The Late Show regarding the former leader in cable news. The statement read, “By ratings standards, Bill O’Reilly is one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news.” To …

The New York Times reports: Bill O’Reilly has been forced out of his position as a prime-time host on Fox News, the company said on Wednesday, after the disclosure of settlements involving sexual harassment allegations against him. His abrupt and embarrassing ouster ends his two-decade reign as one of the most popular and influential commentators in television. “After a thorough …

The New York Times reports: Bill O’Reilly, the embattled Fox News host facing a barrage of sexual harassment accusations, briefly met Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday morning during the pontiff’s weekly general audience, shaking hands with a religious leader he once lectured over immigration. Mr. O’Reilly, on vacation in Italy for the past week, sat in a …

New York Magazine reports: The Murdochs have decided Bill O’Reilly’s 21-year run at Fox News will come to an end. According to sources briefed on the discussions, network executives are preparing to announce O’Reilly’s departure before he returns from an Italian vacation on April 24. Now the big questions are how the exit will look and who will replace him. …

From the Hollywood Reporter: Another woman is telling Fox News her story of harassment at the hands of O’Reilly, according to attorney Lisa Bloom. Bill O’Reilly used to leer at an African-American Fox News clerical worker and called her “hot chocolate,” according to attorney Lisa Bloom, who helped the woman report the harassment to the network’s hotline. The woman worked …

New York Magazine reports: With only six days remaining in Bill O’Reilly’s vacation, the pressure on the Murdoch family to decide the embattled commentator’s fate is intensifying. Three sources with knowledge of the discussions said that, while no final decision has been made, the Murdochs are leaning toward announcing that O’Reilly will not return to the air. Sons James and …

Variety reports: Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News Channel presence in recent days has sparked social-media outrage and advertiser defections. If he goes off the air for a while, will calm return? The popular Fox News Channel host raised that very question when he told viewers during the last few minutes of his “O’Reilly Factor” broadcast on Tuesday night that he would …

Disgraced GOP “family values” Gov. Robert Bentley was fingerprinted and had his mug shot taken this afternoon after a daylong negotiation with prosecutors over the terms of his resignation, which comes after many months of investigation into his failed and felonious campaign to coverup an adulterous affair with an office staffer. Last week the state Ethics Commission declared that it …

Earlier today it was reported at embattled GOP Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is expected to resign in the face of four possible felony charges related to his failed efforts to conceal his affair with now-former aide Rebekah Mason [photo]. Oh, but there’s more: After tense fights with his then-wife over the alleged affair, Bentley would sometimes bolt, leaving state security …

USA Today reports: Wells Fargo said Monday that it would claw back tens of millions in additional compensation from top former executives after an investigation concluded that the leaders had not acted swiftly to contain alleged “improper and unethical behavior.” Independent board members, paired with outside investigators hired by the company to review its fake accounts scandal, blasted Wells Fargo …