Liberal Seattle Host Charged With Fraud

WEBB FACES CHARGES

Blatherwatch: Arrest Follows Seattle PD Investigation



**UPDATED**

After an investigation into alleged auto insurance fraud, extremist Seattle talk show host Mike Webb has apparently been charged with criminal offenses, according to Blatherwatch, a liberal talk radio blog.

For his scoop, Blatherwatch honcho Michael Hood obtained public documents that detail the allegations:

In papers filed Dec. 5 in King Co. Superior Court, and obtained by BlatherWatch; KIRO talk host Mike Webb (9p-1a) was charged with the crime of Fraudulent Insurance Claim in an alleged $5982 scam against a car insurance company.

According to the Court's Superform, Michael Kenneth Webb, 50 years old a KIRO radio talk show host and a Virgo, is also the subject in an investigation of forgery.

The papers were gleaned from public court records. Charges were generated after an accident June 28 involving Webb in his 2000 Lexus GS-3 and his subsequent alleged dealings with GEICO.

A Certification For Determination of Probable Cause describes in detail the fruits of the investigation by Seattle Police Detective Randal Woolery and GEICO investigator Bill Brown that led to the criminal charges against the flamboyant talk host.

Webb is the same liberal host who last year demanded President Bush and several of his Cabinet members face "execution" on war crimes charges. Previously, we've written extensively about Webb and his background.

From November:

--- In 2004, Webb called for President Bush's execution on-air, then denied it, even when confronted with a tape of the broadcast. He then threatened the conservative-leaning reporter who broke the story with a lawsuit.

--- Even some liberals don't like him, because he says one thing, then does another. He supports labor unions on the air, but pushed an AFTRA decertification effort at KIRO without disclosing it to his listeners.

--- Webb rails against Republicans for supposedly being rich, uncaring and greedy, yet drives a shiny black Lexus to work each evening.

--- While opposing Second Amendment rights on the radio, he carries a loaded gun with him nearly always, even sometimes at the station.

--- When times get especially tough, Mike resorts to threats and litigation. Some critics believe this is what keeps him employed, since his ratings are generally not strong.

--- He made an especially questionable allegation against a Seattle police officer in 2004. Read about it here.

--- In my own experience, he was a nightmare to work with. He regularly arrived at the station as his opening theme music was playing, or sometimes even late for the broadcast. Worse, he would then refuse to vacate the studio at the end of his program, keeping the next show from starting on time.

--- In terms of program content, there is only one issue: four hours of pure, nonstop anti-Bush vitriol, with gay discrimination "outrage" usually thrown into the mix.

What will be the fate of Webb's evening talk show on KIRO-AM? So far, Blatherwatch has not been able to obtain comment from the host or station management.

Until now, however, Mike has always been able to get away with antics that for anyone else would lead to certain termination. In addition, he's long had a curious ability to avoid critical press from Seattle's provincial news media, notorious for playing favorites.

The Radio Equalizer can't wait to hear Webb's excuses for the criminal charges. Will it be a Seattle Police Department conspiracy, anti-gay discrimination, or a plot by Karl Rove?

Because he refuses to allow himself to be photographed, the above photo of Webb dates from 1972.

In an email this morning from Blatherwatch blogger Hood, he indicates explosive revelations will soon emerge from the fraud investigation. Can Webb possibly remain on the air, or has he finally pushed his luck much too far?


UPDATE: Hood is on a roll today, now reporting Webb was taken into police custody this morning.

UPDATE: Both the Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer have officially been scooped by a blogger. Ouch.

UPDATE: Hood reports Webb pled not guilty today, in a King County courtroom. Station management indicating he might not be pulled from the airwaves.

UPDATE: Broadcast trade industry coverage planned for Wednesday. Will Seattle papers be able to avoid the story?

WEDNESDAY: Nothing about Webb's arrest in Seattle's daily newspapers, while Blatherwatch follows-up with part two of the story. A substitute host filled-in for Webb last night, saying he would be there for a few days. Apparently, no public statement has yet been made about the arrest.

NEW: station says he will return to his show on Monday.


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