The News reports that the findings in a federal probe into former Page Six staffer Jared Paul Stern's alleged shakedown of billionaire Ron Burkle have been passed along to Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez for final review. Passing the case along to Gonzalez suggests that prosecutors want to move forward rather than close the case, as they must obtain the "express" OK from the attorney general in order to arrest, interrogate, or indict any journalist.

The Manhattan U.S. attorney's office declined to comment, but Stern sent the following email to dogged News reporter William Sherman, who's been covering the story since it broke:

From: Jared Paul Stern
Date: May 18, 2006 6:14 PM
To: William Sherman
Subject: Daily News story tomorrow

Sure. You can quote me on the following. And if you don't print this you're not only a stooge but a pussy:

"The Daily News is a piece of shit."

"Ron Burkle should crawl back down his diamond-paved hole. His lies are gonna come back and bite his bloated billionaire ass hard."

Make sure you get the italics.

best
JPS

We hope he BCC'd Gonzalez on that one, too.

Page Fix Scandal on to AG [NYDN]

Contact information for this author is not available.