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Wiki's Wales Accused of Inappropriate Spending

Claims he abused his foundation's trust

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 5, 2008 10:47 PM CST

(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) (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... (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) (Associated Press)

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Claims he abused his foundation's trust

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Claims he abused his foundation's trust

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Wikipedia • Jimmy Wales • nonprofit • Wikimedia • company credit card • Rachel Marsden • inappropriate expenses

MOST POPULAR STORIES

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Wikipedia to Go Dark in SOPA Protest

Make sure you don't need to look anything up Wednesday

PR Firm Rewrites Clients' Wikipedia Entries

Wiki co-founder slams 'ethical blindness,' suspends writer access

No One Wants to Edit Wikipedia These Days

Online encyclopedia struggling to find fresh blood, says Jimmy Wales

Wikipedia Relaxes Editing Rules on Touchy Topics

Entries on George Bush, etc., more open

Porn Battle Rocks Wiki

Co-founder axes images, complaints erupt

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Newser By Users

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