Husband Of Sen Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Caught In Prostitution Sting

DEBBIE'S DUMMY

Former AAR Exec Caught In Prostitution Bust





*** UPDATED BELOW ***


A former Air America Radio executive known for his radical activism and ties to Washington's liberal establishment has been busted in a prostitution sting, according to multiple news reports.

The arrest is far more significant because Tom Athans is married to Senator Debbie Stabenow, the ultra- liberal Democrat from Michigan.

Athans has had an especially questionable track record in the libtalk arena, including a mysterious tenure at Air America, where he seemed to accomplish little while based in a one-man DC office.

Before Air America, Athans co-founded Democracy Radio, which launched programs by Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller. Both hosts fared better when distribution and promotion was subsequently transferred to JonesMediaAmerica.

Privately, one manager in the "progressive" arena complained to your Radio Equalizer about his track record in the genre and it became obvious he'd made some enemies in broadcasting.

More recently, Athans attempted to create his own libtalk network, but we never heard another word about Talk USA Radio after its 2006 kickoff.


Now, his arrest is sure to place Stabenow in a difficult position. But so far, she isn't hiding, according to ABC News.

From the Detroit News, here's the latest:

Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News

TROY -- The co-founder and former CEO of the liberal-progressive Democracy Radio and husband of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was caught in February by a Troy police sting aimed at catching prostitutes, according to a police report.

Thomas L. Athans was stopped Feb. 26 by undercover officers investigating a possible prostitution ring in a room at the Residence Inn near Big Beaver and Interstate 75. Athans paid a 20-year-old prostitute $150 for sex in a Troy hotel but was not arrested, according to police reports obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by The Detroit News. The police report said officers observed Athans enter a room under surveillance and leave 15 minutes later. Detectives followed and stopped Athans' silver 2002 Cadillac DeVille on Interstate 75 near Square Lake Road.

Athans told police he stopped at the hotel to see a female friend he met online. After calling her on his cell phone, he was given a room number and met the woman at the door. Once inside he placed $150 on a counter top. The woman collected the money and performed oral sex on him, Athans told police.

Officers entered the room and found sex toys, condoms, $431 in cash and a laptop computer. They arrested the woman, identified as Alycia Lorraine Martin, and charged her with prostitution. She was released on a $100 bond and has been ordered to appear in Troy District Court for a pre-trial hearing April 22.

Will our libtalk friends have the nerve to address this subject on today's shows?


UPDATE: during today's Ed Schultz Show, the Fargo- based talker said this: "This is not the Tom Athans that I know and I feel for him and his wife, Senator Stabenow."


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