Nov. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The Corporation for Public Broadcasting's former chairman, Kenneth Tomlinson, violated rules by recruiting a president based on her Republican ties and by adding conservative programming, an internal probe found.

Tomlinson, a Republican, used ``political tests'' when he recruited Patricia Harrison after exchanging ``cryptic'' e-mails with White House staff, said the report released today in Washington. The corporation oversees U.S. government funding for non-commercial broadcasters and some of their shows.

The six-month investigation also found that Tomlinson improperly pushed to create a conservative public television news show and hired consultants with conservative political ties without authorization. Sought by Congressional Democrats, the probe may not prevent further political influence peddling at the corporation or in public broadcasting, said one observer.

``My suspicion is that the push toward partisanship will continue at CPB because birds don't change their colors all that quickly,' said Michael McCauley, a former University of Maine professor and the author of a book about National Public Radio, published in July. ``I hope that for a time this push will become more muted.''

Set up by Congress, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is supposed to shield Public Broadcasting Service shows from political influence. The taxpayer funding distributed by the corporation helps to finance PBS, National Public Radio and production of shows such as ``Sesame Street'' and ``Nova.''

Political Motives

Investigators found that Tomlinson ``was strongly motivated by political considerations in filling the president/CEO position,'' the report says. Tomlinson ``violated statutory provisions and the director's code of ethics'' in recruiting Harrison, it says. Harrison, named the corporation's president and chief executive on June 23, is a former co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee.

Democratic lawmakers today criticized both the corporation and the Bush administration for Tomlinson's excesses.

``The Bush administration may not like the objective reporting heard on public television and radio, but that's no justification for Mr. Tomlinson's crude attempt at political interference,'' said Representative Henry Waxman, Democrat of California.

White House spokeswoman Erin Healy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tomlinson's Intervention

Tomlinson intervened to help create ``The Journal Editorial Report'' as a counterbalance to ``NOW with Bill Moyers,'' said the report by Kenneth Konz, the corporation's inspector general. The report also cites a lack of ``appropriate checks and balances'' to guide corporation management.

In pushing to add the Journal show, which was unusually expensive at $4 million for its first season, Tomlinson told corporation staff ``not to interfere with his deal to bring a balancing program'' to PBS's Friday night programming, the report said.

Tomlinson told investigators that ``PBS needed political balance to represent the contemporary conservative perspectives,'' the report said. Speaking to reporters today, Harrison said the show will end next month.

A consultant with conservative ties was also improperly hired by Tomlinson to assess the political leanings of some guests on the Moyers show, the report said. It faulted Tomlinson for failing to consult with the corporation's board before signing the consultant's contract.

Tomlinson resigned Nov. 3 from the board of the private non-profit corporation, which distributes about $400 million a year for public TV and radio. He stepped down as the board's chairman in September as the initial findings of Konz's probe became known.

Tomlinson's Response

In a written response to the report, Tomlinson defended his actions as ``open'' and ``lawful'' and said they were taken after consulting with the corporation's top lawyer, president, or board.

`Any suggestion by Mr. Konz that I violated my fiduciary duties, the director's code of ethics or relevant statutory provisions is malicious and irresponsible,'' Tomlinson wrote. Konz's report reflects an ``audacious and grasping approach,'' Tomlinson said.

Konz's report cited ``cryptic'' e-mails between Tomlinson and White House staff regarding the hiring of a new president, without identifying the people involved by name. The report also found that Tomlinson was ``instrumental'' in hiring two corporation staff members ``who had political credentials along with their other qualifications.''

The report sparked calls for the dismissal of Harrison by Common Cause and other public-interest groups. Chellie Pingree, president of Common Cause, said: ``The CPB must acknowledge its mistakes and act to restore public confidence.''

Won't Go

Harrison, 66, refused to step aside and the board rejected calls to dismiss her.

``Integrity, leadership -- these are the criteria on which I was chosen,'' said Harrison, who makes $180,000 a year, in a meeting with reporters. ``No one owns me, ever. I do not have a political agenda.''

The corporation's board, led by new chairman Cheryl Halpern, a donor to President George W. Bush and other Republican campaigns, backed Harrison in a statement. The board also said it is setting up two committees to improve management controls and to create hiring policies ``designed to maintain CPB's tradition of nonpartisanship.''

Organization Faulted

Konz's report faulted the corporation for lacking policies to guide the hiring of executive staff and for having ineffective internal controls for contracting outside services. The report said because of the lax controls, objections were not raised against some of Tomlinson's actions.

Tomlinson remains chairman of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees government broadcasts to other countries, including the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

In this capacity, he is the subject of a federal probe, by the State Department's inspector general. That investigation is examining the possible misuse of federal money and use of phantom or unqualified employees, the New York Times said earlier this month.

To contact the reporter on this story: Neil Roland in Washington at nroland@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 15, 2005 15:36 EST