FBI Investigating New York Post Columnist

The New York Post recently revealed that the FBI is currently investigating claims that one of its writers sought financial compensation to end a series of stories featured in the paper's notorious Page Six column. The New York Post, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch and well known for its forceful and dynamic reporting, stated on Friday that Gossip columnist Jared Paul Stern is alleged to have requested monies upwards of six-figures to cease stories related to billionaire supermarket magnate Ron Burkle. According to Reuters, the articles in question center on personal matters beyond the business world,"Jared Paul Stern was alleged to have sought at least $100,000 from Beverly Hills billionaire Ron Burkle in exchange for ending a series of items about Burkle's romantic life which appeared in the paper's Page Six column."

Despite the allegations, attorneys for Ron Burkle have denied the reports and as a result of the controversy surrounding Jared Paul Stern, the New York Post has suspended the columnist pending the findings of the FBI investigation. After rival paper the Daily News broke the story, the New York Post came clean to confirm the story, also prompting Stern to issue a statement to the Daily News denying the charges as outrageous. Ron Burkle, a Beverly Hills billionaire in the supermarket business, is managing partner the private equity firm Yucaipa Cos..

The Page Six column, the most influential in the world, which can often kill or jumpstart a career if written about in the New York Post, is the centerpiece of Rupert Murdoch's renowned publication. It appears that Jared Paul Stern was also unaware of the fact that other eyes were watching the events. According to Yahoo News, "The negotiations were video taped and found their way to front-page articles, first in the rival Daily News and then picked up by the New York Times."

It also appears that e-mails were exchanged between Jared Paul Stern and a person close to Ron Burkle, which had already caught the attention of the long arm of the law. According to Forbes, "After a series of discussions, Burkle and Stern met in New York, according to the person familiar with the case. They met twice in March, and the sessions were secretly videotaped. On at least one occasion, law enforcement agents monitored the conversations from the next room."

Ron Burkle has been widely reported to be one of the wealthiest men in the world with an estimated net worth in excess of over $2 billion dollars. Jared Paul Stern has long been a colorful premiere editor for the New York Post. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Managing Director of News Corporation, is best known for his many high profile media holdings, which include Intermix Media (parent of MySpace.com), and several successful international publications that include London's The Sun, The Herald Sun in Melbourne, and Sydney's The Daily Telegraph. Murdoch is also the founder of the Fox News Channel.

[Additional Sources: Reuters, Yahoo News, Forbes]