Blair Scandal Prompts Times to Probe More Reporters

Published January 13, 2015

The New York Times has investigated accusations of journalistic impropriety against several of its reporters in the wake of the Jayson Blair (search) scandal, but none of the allegations has warranted action so far, the newspaper said Friday.

After a preliminary investigation found widespread plagiarism and fabrications in Blair's work, the newspaper is continuing to investigate his stories and has urged readers to alert New York Times (search) editors to problems.

The Blair coverage also sparked "suggestions and tips," from inside and outside the newspaper, about several other Times reporters, spokeswoman Catherine Mathis said. She declined to specify the number of reporters named or the nature of the allegations.

The newspaper's followup inquiries "have produced no information that appears to warrant action at this time," Mathis said. "But we will continue to investigate whatever suggestions we receive."

Blair, 27, resigned from the Times on May 1 after questions were raised about material in one of his front-page stories.

Mathis said the Times has not provided any information in response to a request by federal prosecutors for information about Blair. The inquiry was made informally Monday by James Comey (search), the U.S. attorney in Manhattan.

Neither the newspaper nor the prosecutor's office would describe the information being sought, and Mathis said the Times has not received a subpoena.

It was not clear what crimes could have been committed, but one expert has said the government could consider charges under mail or wire fraud statutes, which allow cases against defendants who devise a scheme "to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services."

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