Longtime Libtalker Indicted On Child Pornography Charges

BUSTED

KGO's Bernie Ward Nailed In Child Porn Bust





*** First Reported By The Radio Equalizer ***
*** 08 May 2008 Update Here: Bernie Pleads Guilty ***
*** Attempts To Update Ward's Wikipedia Entry Being Undone! ***
*** NEW: Ward's Defense Used Previously By Rocker, Others ***


In a shocking development from San Francisco, longtime liberal talk show host Bernie Ward has apparently been indicted on charges related to child pornography, according to several sources in Baghdad-By-The-Bay.

Your Radio Equalizer has learned that Ward, a married father of four, could face up to five years in prison if convicted on each of the two counts. The allegations include both possessing and forwarding child porn.

The onetime seminarian and frequent cable talk show guest was to be arraigned earlier today, photographed and fingerprinted. He was expected to plead not guilty to the charges.

As of yet, a request for information from the US Attorney's office in San Francisco has not met with a response.

The longtime KGO evening host was notified yesterday by Citadel - ABC management that he has been removed from the station's schedule, effective immediately.

Whether he will be able to return is unknown at this time, but his page has not yet been removed from KGO's website. He did not host Wednesday's program.

In a statement released at 5:30pm EST, KGO Operations Director Jack Swanson told your Radio Equalizer: "Bernie Ward has been a valued, long-time employee of KGO Radio. We were just recently made aware of these serious charges and are surprised and concerned by their nature. As this matter is currently pending in federal court, we will have no additional comment at this time. A substitute host will do the 10pm – 1am broadcast until further notice."

Ward, 56, has not responded to an email request for comment.


As a longtime member of KGO's evening talk lineup, Ward is particularly well- known in the Bay Area and beyond as a cable pundit. In 1995, ABC attempted to syndicate him nationally, but the show didn't take off.

On KGO, however, his liberal rantings have found a substantial following in the nation's most left- leaning region, making him one of the few "progressive" talkers to succeed on a long term basis. In fact, some observers wondered why Ward was not a part of Air America's initial lineup.

Now, however, it's hard to imagine his talk radio career continuing from here, especially if convicted of the charges.


UPDATE: Shortly (about 20 minutes) after our scoop appeared, both KCBS and KGO published their own stories. From KCBS:

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Longtime Bay Area talk show host Bernie Ward has been indicted on two federal Internet child pornography charges.

Ward, a self described progressive and former Catholic priest, hosts the weeknight Bernie Ward Show and the Sunday morning Godtalk show on KGO Radio.

KGO quoted Ward’s criminal attorney, Doran Weinberg, as saying that Ward was researching child pornography for a book four years ago when events occurred that may have led to the charges.

The San Francisco Chronicle is now scrambling to get the details.

IMAO takes the light approach.

Chron update:

Ward's attorney said today that the charges are based on incidents that occurred more than four years ago and were part of research for a book.

"As everybody knows, Bernie, for over 20 years, has been a progressive, opposed to insensitive authority - he has been a champion of charities, nonprofits for the homeless," said Doron Weinberg, who appeared in federal court today as Ward's lawyer.

"More than three years ago, Bernie was doing research for a book he was doing on hypocrisy in America," Weinberg said.

HUFFPO commenters on the conspiracy bandwagon:

Holy S---! Bernie of all people. From what I have read so far this prosecution stinks. What a novel way to remove one of the most vocal and credible voices against this corrupt administration from the air. Even if proven false the stigma this will carry may silence him. Just the fact that he has been indicted will turn many against him, no matter what the facts are. If this is a malicious prosecution being used to silence him, then anyone who raises their voice in opposition should be very afraid.


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Could be that the "prosecution" is some republican ass wanting to take out a bush critic.

This sort of thing is why the congress has cowed to bushcon. Who know what they have on Nancy and Harry and Diane F.

What was that NSA wiretapping all about? Finding teeeerrrrroooorrrrists? Can't understand those towel heads, but lookie here, ahaaaaa aaaaa, Bernie Ward, looking at kiddie pics, quick get Alberto on the phone and the DA in Frisco -

Hope this turns out OK Bernie, and its all a lie.

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