GOP Hush Money? Former Aide to Michael Steele Gets $100K

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

The Republican National Committee has doled out more than $100,000 to the top staffer let go after the embarrassing discovery that the party spent nearly $2,000 to entertain young donors at a sex-themed Hollywood night club.

One GOP insider described the six-figure payment to outgoing RNC Chief of Staff Kenneth K. McKay IV – negotiated even though McKay had scarcely a year on the job -- as "hush money" to keep a former employee from divulging details of Michael Steele's controversial tenure as RNC chair.

Party insiders told ABC News the six-figure payout represented McKay's severance package, and came in exchange for him signing a strict confidentiality agreement. Two RNC sources, both of whom spoke on the condition they not be identified, said similar deals were struck with others who had been forced out in the last few months. Both sources have been critical of Steele's leadership. They said in separate interviews that, while they were not alleging that anything illegal took place, they believe the McKay agreement and others like it are aimed at preventing the departing cast of employees from disparaging Steele. McKay, who had received $163,000 in salary payments, did not respond to messages left at his home in Rhode Island.

Doug Heye, an RNC spokesman, called the assertion "laughable."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/hush-money-top-aide-rnc-chairman-michael-steele/story?id=10891583

[Andy823]

1. Yep...

Sounds like it to me! Pay him off to keep his mouth shut! Of course if someone pays him more, I am sure he might be willing to talk!

[Journeyman]

2. Wow. Faux sex parties *and* hush money to boot. Gotta get me a seat with the RNC . . .

Sure beats working.

[tanyev]

12. No kiddin. GOP = Grifters' Opportunity Party

[Angry Dragon]

3. If nothing to hide then why the confidentiality agreement??

Let the world see the agreement so we know for sure.

[704wipes]

4. a lot of tipping at the Lesbian Bondage club last tnight

nt

[Soylent Brice]

5. GOP modus operandi.

and then McKay will write a "tell-all" a la Scott McClellan style, and nobody will give a shit by then.

[rocktivity]

6. Way ahead of you

And I didn't even know that he'd had less than a year on the job.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=349887&mesg_id=349994

:boring:
rocktivity

[Botany]

7. snort

These guys are conservatives? Thousands of dollars for faux lesbian sex and $100,000 payoff of
"hush money?" Play that meme again about how the republicans are going to win big again this
fall.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Off to the Greatest Page with ye... n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

9. Now the post 2 down from this one makes more sense: ' World's rich got richer amid '09 recession'

the GOP is just spilling money aren't they? I hope the conservative wing of their party is considering renaming themselves the 'spendthrifts' - as they continue to find themselves in the news again and again for wasting money

[ladywnch]

10. it all works out for the best.....

as long as they keep having to pay out hush monies to their own staff that is that much less money they have to fund candidates. I'm sure rebulican donors are more than happy to have their donations paid out to keep ex staffers quiet.

[wordpix]

11. "housing reimbursements" - hope the IRS looks at this

$163K in salary his first year AND he gets over $40K for housing? GOP sure do pay good :-)

Wha's this about lesbians?