Community Corner
Denver Radio Group Says Host Wasn't Fired For Trump Comments
The Salem Media Group is disputing Craig Silverman's assertion that he was fired for criticizing President Donald Trump.
DENVER, CO — The Denver radio station KNUS denies the claim that its executives fired radio host Craig Silverman for his criticism of President Donald Trump. Brian Taylor, the regional vice president of Salem Media Group, held a press conference Sunday night to rebut Silverman's statements.
"No one was fired," Taylor said. "Craig is an independent contractor, and that agreement still remains in effect."
Silverman, the former chief deputy district attorney in Denver, had hosted a show on the radio station for the past five years.
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Silverman said he was criticizing Trump during his Saturday show, when he was interrupted by a broadcast of network news. Silverman said the station's program manager then came through the door and told him "you're done."
"I cannot and will not toe strict Trump party line," Silverman wrote on Twitter after the firing. "I call things as I see them. I see corruption and blatant dishonesty by President and his cronies. I also see bullying/smearing of American heroes w/courage to take oath and tell truth. Their bravery inspires me."
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The day before, Silverman had praised former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Maria Yovanovitch, calling her "an American hero." Yovanovitch is among the witnesses who testified before the House Intelligence Committee in its impeachment inquiry of President Trump, sparked by a whistleblower's report that Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into his political rivals in the 2020 presidential election.
Taylor said Silverman was taken off the air for working for a competitor.
"[Silverman] decided it was important to work across town, and so on his program on Saturday, he announced that," Taylor said. "And that's what prompted our decision to take him off air."
Silverman said he had "every right" under his KNUS contract to work with a competing station.
As of Monday afternoon, Silverman's show was no longer mentioned on the KNUS website.
Patch Editor Colin Miner contributed to this report.
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