TV ANCHOR PUT ON LEAVE WHILE ETHICS STUDIED WAS SALINAS' AFFAIR WITH MAYOR KNOWN?

Byline: BETH BARRETT

Staff Writer

Television newswoman Mirthala Salinas was placed on a leave of absence while NBC-Telemundo officials investigate whether she violated journalistic ethics by reporting on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa after they began their romantic relationship, station officials said Thursday.

The decision to take the 35-year-old backup anchor off the air and conduct an "internal review" is the latest fallout after the Daily News revealed the couple's affair Tuesday.

The station previously defended Salinas' "journalistic integrity" and Villaraigosa, 54, has praised her skill as a reporter while saying their "friendship ... evolved over time."

Salinas was removed from the political beat about 11 months ago, but when the couple's affair began remains unclear.

Questions have arisen over instances in which Salinas reported on the mayor, including referring on air to his separation from his wife last month as a "political scandal," and adding that "the rumors are true."

"Given the seriousness of the allegations that have been made, we have decided to conduct an internal review of the decisions and events that led us to where we are today," Manuel Abud, vice president and general manager of Telemundo (Channel 52), said in a statement Thursday.

"In the meantime, Mirthala Salinas has been placed on a leave of absence from her duties pending this review."

It was not known how long the leave of absence would last. A source close to the situation said the station is continuing to pay Salinas' salary.

In a statement Thursday, Salinas said she welcomed Telemundo's decision to conduct a comprehensive review.

"(I) respect their desire that I allow the review to be completed before returning to work. I will cooperate with the station and appreciate their commitment to undertaking a thorough review of this situation," she said.

"I am confident that when all the facts are analyzed, it will be clear that I conducted myself in an appropriate way."

A source familiar with the situation told the Daily News that Salinas informed the station more than a year ago that she had a personal relationship with the mayor.

"She asked on multiple occasions that she not be tasked with reporting the news of the mayor's divorce from his wife. Despite her request, she was directed to report this information as the Telemundo anchor," the source said.

It's been reported that last summer Salinas gained unprecedented access to Villaraigosa on a flight back from Sacramento after he had lobbied for education reform.

Salinas was a political reporter for Telemundo at the time.

Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, also confirmed Thursday that Salinas had dated Nunez from summer 2003 until shortly after he was sworn in as Assembly speaker in February 2004.

Maviglio said Salinas dated Nunez, who was divorced at the time, and attended his swearing-in ceremony.

After the two broke up, Salinas traveled to Sacramento and interviewed Nunez for Telemundo, but the story never aired, Maviglio said.

The Mayor's Office declined to comment Thursday on the station's decision to place Salinas on a leave of absence.

Station officials said they would make no comments beyond their prepared statement, which did not address whether Salinas had disclosed her relationship with Villaraigosa to them.

Deputy Mayor Sean Clegg said Villaraigosa has always been accessible to all reporters.

"The mayor has provided open and free access to the entire press corps in Los Angeles, and has not granted any reporter preferential access," Clegg said.

Michael Josephson, president of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Josephson Institute of Ethics in Los Angeles, said the station is doing the right thing in conducting an investigation.

He said the ethical key for Salinas is whether she told her bosses about her romance with the mayor.

"Recusing isn't always necessary, but the decision should be made by a neutral source ... Not all conflicts require recusal, but they do require disclosure," he said.

"If she lied, if she worked for me, I'd fire her. Not for the affair, but for lying about it."

beth.barrett(at)dailynews.com

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