THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 1994 TAG: 9410290243
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ESTHER DISKIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson on Friday criticized as ``unfair and unbalanced'' an ABC News report on his investments in a financially troubled vitamin and cosmetics company, KaloVita.
On ``The 700 Club,'' the daily religion and news show that originates at the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia Beach, Robertson delivered a lengthy rebuttal of Thursday night's ``Primetime Live'' report.
``The distorted conclusions drawn by `Primetime Live' cannot be substantiated by fact,'' Robertson said.
The ``Primetime Live'' report delved into the ethics of mingling the finances of a nonprofit ministry with private companies from which Robertson and his family members have profited.
The report discussed the Family Channel, which grew into International Family Entertainment, but it focused on the multilevel marketing company KaloVita, which started with financial help from CBN and has consistently lost money. Robertson said Friday that he has repaid CBN's investment with interest.
If KaloVita ever turns a profit, Robertson said, he will donate 40percent of the company's stock to the Christian Broadcasting Network as a gift.
Most of the information in the ABC report, as well as in a recent story in Newsweek, was reported a year ago in a series of articles in The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star.
Attorneys general in two states, Florida and Pennsylvania, are beginning to look into the legality of KaloVita's operations, according to the ABC report. Both ABC News and Newsweek interviewed several of Robertson's followers who claim they lost thousands of dollars after buying products they couldn't sell. The ABC News report closed with a former recruiter for the company who said Robertson should apologize to them.
Robertson said Friday his lawyers believe that he has ``a valid case'' against ABC News and Newsweek for ``defamatory remarks.''
But instead of suing, Robertson said, the Lord wants him to pray.
``Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you,'' he said, quoting a passage from Christ's Sermon on the Mount, as told in Matthew.
Les Garringer, an assistant attorney general in Florida, said his office will begin an investigation of KaloVita based on documents supplied by ABC News.
Those documents included KaloVita's compensation plan and a recruiting letter for people to sell the vitamin and skin-care products. The letter includes a copy of a $15,000 monthly commission check followed by the enticing question: ``Can you imagine what you could be earning?''
``If you are advertising that people who join your plan can make $15,000 a month and there is no disclaimer, you have committed an unfair and deceptive trade practice in the state of Florida,'' Garringer said in the ABC report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Robertson
by CNB