Keith Olbermann to Return From Suspension Tuesday
Keith Olbermann
MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann will return to the network Tuesday, five nights after he was suspended for donating to three Democratic campaigns
"After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night," MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement Sunday evening.
MSNBC suspends Keith Olbermann indefinitely for campaign contributions
The 51-year-old Countdown host was suspended indefinitely by Griffin Friday after Politico first reported his donations. Olbermann made campaign contributions of $2,400 — the maximum legal donation — to two members of Congress from Arizona, Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords, and failed Kentucky senatorial candidate Jack Conway prior to the election, Olbermann told Politico in a statement.
NBC News policy allows employees to make political donations as long as they receive the proper approval from the network news president. Olbermann failed to get such approval before he made his donations.
Olbermann was one of five on-air personalities to report the results of Tuesday's midterm election for MSNBC.
A groundswell of support emerged for his reinstatement immediately following his suspension. SaveOlbermann.com, an online petition from the Progressive Change Campaign Committee to "put Olbermann back on the air NOW!" received more than 280,000 signatures.
"Greetings From Exile! A quick, overwhelmed, stunned THANK YOU for support that feels like a global hug & obviously left me tweetless XO," Olbermann tweeted early Sunday.
MSNBC correspondent Thomas Roberts filled in as guest anchor on Countdown on Friday. It was not made clear who would fill in for Olbermann on Monday.
Olbermann originally started at MSNBC in 1997 before leaving the following year. He has hosted Countdown since 2003.