Richard Jewell, the security guard who was the focus of the investigation into the Olympic bombing before he was cleared by the government, reached a settlement of more than $500,000 from NBC, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
When the settlement was announced on Dec. 9, no amount was revealed and NBC issued a statement saying it agreed to the settlement to protect confidential sources and would have no further comment. No apology or retraction was issued.The Journal said the two sides agreed on a settlement of more than $500,000, quoting people familiar with the deal. It quoted Jewell, 34, as saying he was "very satisfied" with the settlement.
NBC spokeswoman Beth Comstock Friday refused to confirm the reported amount of the settlement. And Jewell attorney Wayne Grant said, "We did not disclose the terms of the settlement to The Wall Street Journal, and I can't comment on its report."
The case centered on comments anchorman Tom Brokaw made on the air after Jewell was named a possible suspect in the July 27 blast during a concert at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park. One woman was killed and more than 100 others were injured.
Brokaw had said: "Look, they probably got enough to arrest him. They probably have got enough to try him." Brokaw has since emphasized that he finished his on-air remarks by saying: "Everyone, please understand absolutely he is only the focus of this investigation - he is not even a suspect yet."
Jewell was cleared Oct. 26.
Jewell's attorneys have twice asked The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the first newspaper to identify Jewell, to retract the story. The newspaper has stood by its coverage and refused.
Jewell's attorneys say that while they would like some apologies, they and Jewell want financial compensation.
"We're going to sue everyone from A to Z," said attorney L. Lin Wood Jr.
"You can't spend 60 percent of an apology," he said, referring to a client's typical share of a settlement after attorneys' fees. "This litigation is not about principle. It's about compensation for injury done."
Jewell's lawyers would not divulge how they would divide the NBC settlement with their client, the newspaper said.