| Air America-gloria Wise Loan Controversy |
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In July has revoked the group's right to use their name, likeness or logo. At the time the funds were alleged to have been transferred, Evan Cohen , former chairman of the now-defunct Progress Media, was also Director of Development for Gloria Wise. {Link without Title} Link dead as of April 25, 2006 In response to this report, Air America Radio's current owners, Piquant LLC, issued a press release stating that the alleged "mismanagement and corruption at Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club" was "absolutely disgraceful." In addition, the press release stated that although Piquant had "no obligation to Progress Media's business activities", Piquant had "agreed months ago to fully compensate the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club as a result of this transaction". Furthermore, in an Air America radio monologue on August 8 , 2005 , Al Franken stated, "...Rob Glaser, the new guy, who is the head of this new company Piquant, said OK, we don't legally have to pay it back, because we're a different company I guess, but we morally do, so they start making arrangements to pay it back." However, Piquant's press release and Franken's paraphrasing of Rob Glaser appear at odds with a settlement agreement between Piquant LLC, Evan Cohen, and Rex Sorensen. [http://hyperion.hmdnsgroup.com/%7Emalkin/archives/files/settlement.pdf] This agreement includes details of the transfer of Air America Radio assets and specific liabilities from Progress Media to Piquant including the funds owed by Progress Media to Gloria Wise. No details surrounding the terms of the loan, or the repayment thereof, are included in the settlement agreement. On August 2 , 2005, the New York Sun {Link without Title} reported that the Gloria Wise executive committee estimated a total of $875,000 was transferred from the club to Progress Media as well as directly to Evan Cohen. On was joining the New York City Department of Investigation in the inquiry into the behavior of the Gloria Wise executive board. They also reported that Piquant LLC has begun paying back the funds, starting with a $50,000 payment, into an escrow account controlled by Piquant's lawyers, although city investigators preferred a neutral account that could not be touched by either party. {Link without Title} On August 12 , 2005, the New York Times reported that Al Franken commented on the case during his show earlier that week. Franken characterized Evan Cohen as "a crook" and said "I don't know why they did it, and I don't know where the money went. I don't know if it was used for operations, which I imagine it was. I think he was robbing Peter to pay Paul." Franken had also stated that he knew nothing of the details of the loan between Gloria Wise and Progress Media. However, in September of 2005, [http://www.nysun.com/article/19659 The New York Sun reported that Al Franken was among the signers of a confidential agreement in November 2004 that said the Air America network would repay $875,000 it had borrowed from the Bronx nonprofit organization. Franken is a signatory to the agreement settlement between Piquant LLC and Cohen. [http://hyperion.hmdnsgroup.com/%7Emalkin/archives/files/settlement.pdf][http://www.nysun.com/article/19659] On August 18 , 2005, the New York Sun reported that in May, 2005, Multicultural Radio Broadcasting filed suit against the current owners of Air America Radio, Piquant LLC for $255,000 alleging that the transfer of assets from Progress Media to Piquant LLC was a "sham" transaction designed specifically to avoid the claims of creditors of Piquant. The suit is an attempt by Multicultural Broadcasting to enforce a November 2004 judgement against Piquant. Multicultural Broadcasting is seeking over $1.5 million in damages from Piquant LLC, the current owners of Air America. [http://www.nysun.com/special_section/airamerica/18864f.php This lawsuit was subsequently settled out of court on November 18, 2005 [http://www.nysun.com/article/23238]. On September 8 , 2005, the New York Sun and the New York Post reported that Danny Goldberg, CEO of Air America, announced that the board of directors of the network's owner had accelerated its payment schedule and deposited the full $875,000 into the escrow account to settle the loan from the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club. Goldberg stated that Al Franken's signature on the agreement between Piquant LLC and Evan Cohen "was simply to waive his own claims in order to facilitate the transaction and allow the network to survive under new ownership." Mr. Goldberg said the portion of the agreement that listed the Gloria Wise claim of $875,000 did not apply to Mr. Franken, who was not an investor. "Al Franken does not have and never had any responsibility for this loan," Mr. Goldberg said in a written statement. "His role at Air America was then and remains today as on-air talent." [http://www.nysun.com/article/19659 The New York City Department of Investigation has commented: DOI asked Air America to repay the $875,000 to an escrow account controlled by DOI. Thereafter, Air America repaid only $50,000 to an escrow account that is not controlled by DOI. DOI is pleased that Piquant LLC, the current owner of Air America, has agreed to DOI's request that, in lieu of making $50,000 quarterly payments, Piquant transfer the full $875,000 to the escrow account. NOTES |
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