Report: Richard Jewell to get more than $500,000 from NBC

Cleared Olympic bombing suspect reported 'very satisfied'

January 3, 1997
Web posted at: 4:40 p.m. EST

In this story:

No confirmation
What Brokaw said
'We're going to sue everyone'
Related stories and sites

NEW YORK (CNN) -- 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 December 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. Neither an apology nor a 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.

No confirmation

NBC spokeswoman Beth Comstock 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 other people were injured. A cameraman on his way to cover the story died after having a heart attack.

What Brokaw said

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 October 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.

After making the deal with NBC, Jewell's lawyers met secretly with a CNN executive to discuss a settlement, The Wall Street Journal story also said. CNN declined to comment on the report.

'We're going to sue everyone'

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."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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