State denies Leiberman unemployment benefits

[KipWellsFan]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-t...ack=1&cset=true

 

Originally published April 13, 2005

 

Maryland has denied unemployment benefits to Sinclair Broadcast Group whistleblower Jon Leiberman, fired last fall for criticizing plans to air an anti-John Kerry documentary shortly before the 2004 presidential election, www.broadcasting cable.com reported last night.

 

Leiberman, a Westminster native, was fired by Hunt Valley-based Sinclair after he told The Sun the documentary Stolen Honor was "propaganda."

 

The Reed Business Information-operated Web site reported that a state Department of Labor report labeled Leiberman's actions "gross misconduct" and a "wanton disregard" of his obligations to Sinclair.

 

Sinclair decided not to air Stolen Honor, featuring swift boat veterans' claims that Kerry's 1971 anti-war testimony worsened treatment of Vietnam prisoners of war. It featured outtakes in its special A POW Story: Politics, Pressure and the Media.

 

Leiberman must pay back $1,000 he received. He is working as a freelance producer for Fox's America's Most Wanted.

 

From staff reports

 

I'm not so concerned about him getting his unemployment benefits. What worries me is the conclusions the department of labour come to. Either there is more to this story than meets the eye or they are saying "Hey dumbass you work for a propaghanda factory, what did you expect? ".

[southsider2k5]

I don't know the details, but that sounds like a pretty typical unemployment rejection. The two states that I have dealt with (IN,IL) you have to lose your job through no fault of your own to collect benefits. And pretty much the states will look for any reason to deny you benefits, as they want to keep costs down. So if the employer went in and contested the filing, the employee most of the time will lose and get denied.