Liberal yakker Al Franken blasted the man who founded his Air America radio network as "a crook" on Monday - even as he laughed off the financial scandal that continues to dog his broadcast.
After weeks of on-air silence about an $875,000 loan that Air America finagled from a Bronx community group that serves poor kids and Alzheimer's patients, Franken was finally forced to discuss the scandal when a caller asked him to explain.
"Here's the deal," the Air America host said. "The first guy who was chairman of the board of Air America - Evan Cohen - was a crook, it turns out. I mean, I guess that's the only way to put it."
Explaining Cohen's role in ripping off the kids' club, Franken suddenly turned giddy.
"He borrowed $875,000," he said, erupting in laughter. "I don't know why they did it and I don't know where the money went."
Franken said he "imagines" that the funds earmarked for childrens' programs were instead "used for operations" at Air America, which was strapped for cash at the time.
"[Cohen] was robbing Peter to pay Paul," he explained.
