Controversy
Graham has been involved in various controversies over his career.
- In July 2005, Graham used Islam and terrorism as the basis for a multi-day discussion on his WMAL talk radio show. A number of Graham's comments prompted over one hundred complaints to the station and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued action alerts to its subscribers encouraging them to contact WMAL to urge that "Graham be reprimanded for his anti-Islam statements", ultimately prompting WMAL to suspend him. After 28 days, WMAL elected to terminate Graham stating that he violated station policy and disregarded "management direction" to redress the situation. The situation prompted angry editorials from Graham as well as appearances on nationally televised news programs to discuss the firing.
- Graham attended a rally to protest the Real ID Act, sponsored by Casa de Maryland in May 2005. He was photographed in an INS shirt, and was blocked from entering the event even as he showed ABC Radio credentials, with officials citing public safety. An altercation ensued, and police were called, with a second altercation occurring following their arrival. After questioning, Graham was allowed to enter the event with his shirt turned inside out.
- Graham was fired from his first commercial talk-radio job at WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, after comments he made on-air in the wake of the Columbine massacre in 1999.
- Graham drew criticism from blogs on the Left and the Right for comments about Bill and Hillary Clinton made on CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck Show on June 20, 2007. Referring to a Clinton campaign ad based on the final episode of The Sopranos, Graham said "...didn't you at some point want to see, like, Paulie Walnuts, somebody come in here and just whack them both right there? Wouldn't that have been great?...Come on! Where's "Big Pussy"? Come on! Let's make it happen...I wanted that." Beck did not agree with Graham's comments.
- Graham was arrested Friday, February 13, 2009, after being pulled over at about 5:30 AM for failing to stop at a red light in Framingham, Massachusetts. He was charged with driving with a revoked license. Graham denies receiving a revocation letter, although RMV spokeswoman Ann Dufresne claims one was sent in October 2008. His license was revoked in November 2008 for failing to notify Virginia that he had relocated to Massachusetts in 2006. Graham has had a Massachusetts license since February 2006.
- Assistant District Attorney Darina Belot filed for a nolle prosequi on June 19, writing that the Registry of Motor Vehicles reinstated Graham's Massachusetts driver's license on February 19. Graham was scheduled for a jury trial on Monday, June 29.
- During a debate on the Irish radio channel Newstalk on 28 May 2010, the future President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, accused Graham of indulging in "the radio of hysterical ignorance" and urged him to "be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a wanker whipping up fear."
Read more about this topic: Michael Graham (radio Personality)
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