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LA Mayor's Reporter Lover Suspended

'Conflicted' newscaster covered his divorce

By Colleen Barry, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 3, 2007 6:08 AM CDT

(Newser) – A Telemundo reporter who covered the Los Angeles political beat while having an affair with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been suspended for two months without pay. Mirthala Salinas' involvement with the then-married mayor was an open secret at the station when she broadcast the breakup of his 20-year marriage. Media watchdogs are calling for her termination.

Three of the newscaster's superiors were also disciplined. "Our news policy standards with respect to conflict of interest were clearly violated," said a memo to the staff. Salinas did not comment. The mayor said he regretted "that decisions I have made in my personal life have been a distraction for the city."

[Images (8)]

[Videos (3)]

Antonio Villaraigosa at his first press conference since he revealed that he has been having an affair with Telemundo newscaster Mirthala Salinas. (Associated Press)

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa directs high school students during a clean-up project in the Chinatown section of Los Angeles Tuesday, July 10, 2007, as a kick-off event for a summer youth employment... (Associated Press)

Antonio Villaraigosa (Associated Press)

Los Angeles Mayor-elect Antonio R. Villaraigosa sits with his wife Corina as they listen to speakers from different faiths at the Interfaith Prayer Service for the Inauguration of Villaraigosa at the... (Associated Press)

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is surrounded by press as he arrives for a news conference on immigration, Wednesday, June 27, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Associated Press)

Newly inaugurated Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, right, kisses his wife Corina as they hold the family Bible at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles in this July 1 2005, file photo. Villaraigosa... (Associated Press)

Mirthala Salinas (dougfromupland (YouTube))

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Antonio Villaraigosa, Mirthala Salinas and NY Trip Mar. 2006 (fullosseousflap (YouTube))

Antonio Villaraigosa admits affair. (fullosseousflap (YouTube))

Man attacks LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at meeting. (guanabee (YouTube))

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LA Mayor's Reporter Lover Suspended