Former Tribune Publishing Co. chairman Michael Ferro allegedly claimed that a “Jewish cabal” controlled Los Angeles, according to a new report Wednesday by National Public Radio (NPR).
NPR reported that at a 2016 dinner in Chicago with company executives, Ferro launched into an antisemitic tirade:
At the dinner, as at other moments, Ferro railed against those who he felt were impeding him — including perceived rivals and competitors. Among them: the Southern California billionaire and civic leader Eli Broad, whom Ferro called part of a “Jewish cabal” that ran Los Angeles.
The Broad family contributes to a number of public institutions, including popular museums and concert halls.
Ferro’s complaints were allegedly secretly recorded by a Los Angeles Times employee, who was allegedly paid a $2.5 million settlement after being fired to keep the story quiet.
NPR: Former @latimes editor Davan Maharaj secretly recorded tronc owner Michael Ferro complaining of a “Jewish cabal,” was later paid a $2.5 million settlement after being fired. https://t.co/OPELOx0R8K
— Ben Welsh (@palewire) December 12, 2018
It was once illegal in Illinois to record conversations without the consent of all parties, but that law was struck down in 2014.
At the time, the Tribune company — later renamed Tronc — owned the Los Angeles Times, which it sold earlier this year to billionaire pharmaceutical entrepreneur Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiung.
Ferro stepped down as chair of the company after sexual harassment allegations arose related to conduct outside the company.
Los Angeles has a large, vibrant, and visible Jewish community. However, the current mayor, Eric Garcetti, is only the city’s first Jewish mayor.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. He is also the co-author of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, which is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.
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