Kelley Not Talking; His Lawyer Mum on Possible Book

By: Joe Strupp Disgraced former USA Today reporter Jack Kelley doesn't plan to make any more public statements or entertain interviews anytime soon, said his attorney, Lisa Banks. "I believe he is focused with getting on with his life," said Banks, one of two attorneys at the Washington law firm of Bernabei and Katz, which has represented Kelley for several months. "He is not giving interviews or making any comments. That may change if he decides that is what he wants to do, but he has no plans to at the moment."

But Banks would not say whether Kelley was planning to write a book about his plagiaristic past, similar to one penned by former New York Times reporter Jayson Blair. "I can't comment on that," she said. "Mr. Kelley made a statement last week in the paper and that is all he has said at this time."

Banks' comments came just days after a managerial house-cleaning at the Gannett Co. Inc. flagship, which included the resignations of editor Karen Jurgensen and managing editor Hal Ritter, as well as indications from executive editor Brian Gallagher that he, too, would eventually leave. The paper also released a scathing 28-page report on Kelley's transgressions that placed at least a portion of the blame on the paper's "lax editing" and poor management structure.

Banks offered little comment on the resignations or the report, saying only "the paper did what it had to do." She said Kelley was glad to cooperate with the lengthy review, but now "my understanding is that the investigation is concluded with the report that was issued last week."

The attorney would not confirm whether her law firm remained on retainer to Kelley, saying only "whatever we can do to help Jack, we'll certainly be glad to do." She said she does not expect Kelley to take any legal action against the paper, and does not believe USA Today (Click for QuikCap) would seek any legal recourse against him for the falsifications he made. A USA Today spokesman said Monday that he did not know of any legal action being planned by the paper.

"I have no idea what the paper plans to do internally," Banks added. "But the investigation is over and I hope everyone can move on with their lives."