Posted on 06/28/2006 3:21:28 PM PDT by Liz
INTELLIGENCER
Remember the Jared Paul Stern gossip-ethics kerfuffle? The FBI does. Stern, a longtime freelance contributor to the Posts Page Six, was accused by billionaire Ron Burkle of trying to extort $200,000 from him in exchange for keeping negative stories about him out of the paper.
Now the Page Six editor, Richard Johnson, has been contacted for questioning by a group that includes prosecutors from the Southern District and federal agents. Asked about a looming interview with the G-men, Johnson referred calls to a publicist.
One of Johnsons lawyers, Ed Hayes, says he is aware the Feds requested a routine sit-down with Johnson but believes it is unnecessary as Stern has not been charged with a crime.
Because Hayes once represented Stern, he says another lawyer, Murray Richman, is representing Johnson in relation to the federal probe (Richman calls Johnson a friend but says hes not involved; his daughter, Stacey Richman, is repping Johnson on a recent DUI charge).
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Jared Stern, freelance contributor to the NY Posts Page Six, was accused by billionaire Ron Burkle of trying to extort $200,000 from him in exchange for keeping negative stories about him out of the paper.
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