Liberal Talk Show Host Bernie Ward Admits to Distribution of Child Pornography

Bernie Ward, San Francisco’s leading liberal radio host, has admitted to distribution of child pornography by e-mail. He will now face at least five years in prison and as much as ten years.

Ward, 57, is a former Roman Catholic priest who became known as the “Lion of the Left.”

In a hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, Ward (who had previously denied the allegations) pleaded to a single charge of distribution, involving “exchanging an image of a minor engaged in sexually explicit activity” in December 2004. However, the plea agreement references between 15 and 150 pornographic images via e-mail.

His attorneys are now seeking a five year term. Only nine months would be taken off for good time. The government wants nine months. But both are better than the 20 years that he was looking at. Transcripts of Ward’s calls between December 2004 and January 2005 reveal fantasies related to children. For those transcripts, click here. They notably lack any connection to research that he originally claimed in defense.

For the full story, click here.