NPR on Expose Vid: We Didn't Take the Money...and Exec Resigned a Week Ago

NPR has just issued a statement regarding James O'Keefe's undercover video featuring Senior Vice President of Development Ron Schiller.

(Read our original story and watch the video.)

In it, NPR spokeswoman Dana Davis Rehm, senior vice president of marketing, communications and external relations, says the organization is appalled by Schiller's words, and that he will be leaving the company due to an already-planned departure. However, NPR reiterates his leaving has nothing to do with the video, and the company never accepted the fake actors' money

Read the statement below:

The fraudulent organization represented in this video repeatedly pressed us to accept a $5 million check, with no strings attached, which we repeatedly refused to accept.

We are appalled by the comments made by Ron Schiller in the video, which are contrary to what NPR stands for.

Mr. Schiller announced last week that he is leaving NPR for another job.

In a follow-up e-mail with NPR, the company told The Blaze, "Ron Schiller’s departure has nothing to do with this video – we weren’t aware there was a video until this morning."

UPDATE:

NPR is covering its own controversy, and has a blog post that is being updated here. Author Mark Memmot offers additional details on Schiller's new position: he will become director of the Aspen Institute Arts Program.