October 23, 2006
Armstrong Williams, the conservative commentator hired by the federal government to push its educational agenda, will pay $34,000 to settle False Claims Act charges. Williams admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement. The suit contended that Williams was paid for public-service ads which he didn’t produce. Investigators found that he was also not paid for other work he completed, so the $34,000 represents $90,000 in penalties minus a credit for the completed work.
Williams’ contract had been criticized by the Education Department’s inspector general.
USA Today ran an October 20, 2006 story on the settlement.