MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, who was suspended for donating to three Democratic campaigns, will return to the network Tuesday.
The 51-year-old Countdown host was suspended indefinitely without pay by MSNBC President Phil Griffin after it surfaced that Olbermann had made campaign contributions of $2,400 — the maximum legal donation — to two members of Congress from Arizona, Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords, and failed Kentucky senatorial candidate Jack Conway.
NBC News policy allows employees to make political donations as long as they receive approval from the network. However, Olbermann didn't get such approval before he made his donations.
Fans of the 'Countdown' host setup an online petition, which has received more than 280,000 signatures so far, to "put Olbermann back on the air NOW!", following his suspension.
"Greetings From Exile! A quick, overwhelmed, stunned THANK YOU for support that feels like a global hug & obviously left me tweetless XO," Olbermann wrote on his Twitter account Sunday in response to the support.
The decision to suspend Olbermann caused some controversy among both conservatives and liberals, who laughed at the policy and asked was it really so surprising that a partisan host donated to a political party.
"After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night," says MSNBC President Phil Griffin.
MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, who was suspended for donating to three Democratic campaigns, will return to the network Tuesday.
