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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Wiki's Wales Accused of Inappropriate Spending

Claims he abused his foundation's trust

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(Newser) – Jimmy Wales has been hit with allegations that he abused his position as founder of Wikipedia, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. A former Wikipedia employee, Danny Wool, has claimed on his blog that Wales used his Wikimedia Foundation credit card for personal expenses. Meanwhile, a former girlfriend released chat transcripts between her and Wales that indicate he edited her Wikipedia entry to remove unfavorable information.

Executives at Wikimedia Foundation are solidly behind Wales, denying any inappropriate expenses, but an internal email from chairwoman Florence Devouard acquired by the AP indicates otherwise. In it, she chastises Wales for asking them to cover a $1,300 steak dinner tab, despite also reporting to fellow board members that she had convinced the AP that “the money story was a no story.”

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, answers a question during an interview with the Associated Press Friday, June 29, 2007, in St. Petersburg, Fla.   (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, answers a question during an interview with the Associated Press Friday, June 29, 2007, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)   (Associated Press)
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, answers a question during an interview with The Associated Press in St. Petersburg, Fla. in this June 29, 2007 file photo. Wales is finding it's not so easy to cover his tracks after a messy breakup with a TV personality and a scandal over extravagant...
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, answers a question during an interview with The Associated Press in St. Petersburg, Fla. in this June 29, 2007 file photo. Wales is finding it's not so easy to cover...   (Associated Press)
Internet entrepreneur Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, attends the iBreakfast forum on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Internet entrepreneur Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, attends the iBreakfast forum on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)   (Associated Press)
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