Rendell

Former Gov. Ed Rendell says he wouldn't risk his reputation for money, but that is exactly the impression he gave by linking himself to a shady organization that, whether he agrees with it or not, is listed as a terrorist group by the State Department. But Rendell isn't alone. Others who have spoken out in support of the group of Iranian rebels called MEK, short for Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, include former Homeland Security Director and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, former FBI Director Louis Freeh, former National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, former CIA Director Porter Goss, and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

In the last eight months, former Gov. Ed Rendell has been to Paris four times and Geneva twice. He's also joined rallies at the Capitol, White House, and State Department - all on behalf of a new cause he admits he knew little about until recently: the fate of a militant Iranian exile group living in Iraq called MEK, short for Mujahedeen-e-Khalq. He's been compensated for making speeches in support of MEK, designated by the State Department as a terrorist group, and pictured in ads and online videos that seek to get that designation lifted.

Financial records of former Gov. Ed Rendell reportedly have been subpoenaed by the Treasury Department in a probe of support by prominent Americans of an Iranian exile group that the federal government calls a terrorist organization. Rendell, along with former Democratic National Chairman and presidential candidate Howard Dean, former Homeland Security Director and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, and former FBI Director Louis Freeh, has been an outspoken advocate of lifting the U.S. terrorism designation from the Mujaheddin Khalq, or MEK. The MEK for the last 30 years has been a fierce opponent of the fundamentalist-led Iran government, itself designated by the U.S. government a state sponsor of terrorism.

The bids to buy Philadelphia Media Network Inc. are in. At least, that's what former Gov. Ed Rendell told a political blogger before an appearance on MSNBC on Friday, according to a blog post on the Politico website. Rendell told the blogger, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith, that bids to buy the parent company of The Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com "went in today," according to the post by Politico media blogger Dylan Byers. Rendell did not return phone calls for comment.

HARRISBURG - Gov. Corbett said Thursday he believed it was a "bad idea" for former Gov. Ed Rendell to be involved in a group of investors seeking to buy The Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I look to newspapers to be objective," the Republican governor said. Rendell, he added, "will always be a politician. " Corbett made the comments during his monthly appearance on Dom Giordano's show on 1210 WPHT-AM Philadelphia. Asked to elaborate later in the day, Corbett added only: "I think it's a bad idea, but it's a free country.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Monday that the investor group he organized to buy Philadelphia Media Network Inc. (PMN) would consider establishing a "fire wall" to limit interference with the company's newsrooms. Rendell made the comments to former Inquirer reporter Buzz Bissinger on WPHT-AM radio Monday. During the interview, Rendell reiterated that he was not putting up any money to buy the parent company of The Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com.

ED RENDELL'S vow of silence was officially laid to rest yesterday. It lasted about as long as most people expected. The former governor, who told the Daily News on Saturday that he would no longer talk publicly about his pursuit of Philadelphia Media Network, discussed the topic at length with Buzz Bissinger on WPHT (1210-AM). Rendell told Bissinger, who was guest-hosting "The Michael Smerconish Show" on WPHT yesterday afternoon, that his investor group - which includes powerful New Jersey Democrat George Norcross and businessman Lew Katz - would be "willing to do something" to convince reporters and readers that it wouldn't meddle with stories in the Daily News , Inquirer , Philly.com and SportsWeek , which are owned by PMN. "I'd be open to ideas, and so would the group," said Rendell, adding that he'd probably be chairman of the board if his group took ownership.

UPDATE: Ed Rendell told the Daily News this weekend that he was done talking to the media about his plan to buy the Daily News, Inquirer and Philly.com, but he's apparently made an exception for Buzz Bissinger. Bissinger interviewed Rendell Monday morning, and the interview will air around 4 p.m. on Talk Radio 1210WPHT. Bissinger is hosting the show for Michael Smerconish, who is on vacation. ED RENDELL is mad as hell, and he's not going to talk about it anymore! The loquacious former governor vowed Saturday night to give the media the silent treatment from now on, following a week's worth of news articles, columns and blog posts that criticized his efforts to lead a group of investors who want to buy Philadelphia Media Network, the parent company of the Daily News , Inquirer , Philly.com and SportsWeek . "I'm not going to talk to anybody any more.