ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701060061
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
Report: NBC paid for Brokaw's remarks
NEW YORK - NBC paid more than $500,000 to Richard Jewell to avert a lawsuit over comments Tom Brokaw made about the one-time Olympic bombing suspect, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
The settlement was announced Dec. 9, but the amount was not disclosed then. NBC issued a statement saying it had agreed to the settlement to protect confidential sources. It offered no apology or retraction.
The Journal, quoting unidentified sources, said Jewell settled for more than $500,000.
NBC spokeswoman Beth Comstock refused to confirm the amount. Jewell's attorney, Wayne Grant, said, ``We did not disclose the terms of the settlement to The Wall Street Journal, and I can't comment on its report.''
Jewell, a 34-year-old security guard, found the knapsack that contained the pipe bomb just before the July 27 blast that left two people dead and injured more than 100. He was the only named suspect before he was cleared by the government in October.
Jewell's attorneys contended that Brokaw last summer insinuated that Jewell committed the bombing. They have asked The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the first newspaper to identify Jewell as a suspect, to retract the story. The newspaper has stood by its coverage.
- Associated Press
Female cadets not yet ready to return
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Two female cadets reportedly hazed at The Citadel would like to return to classes this month, but they have not made a final decision, a lawyer said Friday.
``They don't want to undergo what they experienced this semester, and want some assurances it will not occur again. No final decision [about returning] can be based on what we know at this time,'' said Tim Kulp, an attorney for Jeanie Mentavlos of Charlotte, N.C.
Attorneys say Mentavlos and Kim Messer of Clover were the targets of hazing that included setting their clothes on fire, being shoved with rifles and being forced to drink alcohol.
``We're watching it on a day-to-day basis,'' ``We may be in a position to know a little more about how to proceed after Tuesday,'' Kulp said.
U.S. District Judge Weston Houck has set a Tuesday hearing on whether The Citadel should increase security to comply with his order to integrate women safely. The U.S. Justice Department requested the hearing.
Interim Citadel President Clifton Poole said Friday the school would welcome a congressional inquiry into allegations that the women were hazed. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., said this week that if the facts warrant it, The Citadel could become a target of a congressional investigation of sexual assault and harassment in the military.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 57 linesby CNB