Arnold Schwarzenegger, the unsalaried but otherwise over-endowed governor of California, on Friday dumped his controversial 'consultancy' deal with Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines - an arrangement critics say constitutes a serious conflict of interest.
Not only has the Terminator terminated his contract with the two magazines published by American Media - a deal he entered into just two days before being sworn into office in November 2003 - he will also eschew further compensation.
"I don't want to be paid," said the multimillionaire, executing an abrupt U-turn from his stance before the deal became public knowledge [WAMN: 18-Jul-05]. It is not clear from the governor's remarks if he intends to return monies he has already received.
"The decision is to discontinue the relationship we have now," Schwarzenegger said. "I will continue promoting body building and fighting obesity."
Last year, the occupant of the governor's mansion vetoed a bill going through the California state legislature that would have regulated the use of performance-enhancing substances (such as those widely advertised in Muscle & Fitness and Flex) in high school sports.
Data sourced from Wall Street Journal Online; additional content by WARC staff
