We are aware of the allegations of harassment made by Ms. Nardi. We have done a complete and thorough investigation of her allegations of harassment and we are satisfied that there is no merit to them. We stand behind our experienced and dedicated staff, fully.

You had some time constraints placed on you that made it difficult ... to do a thorough and complete investigation.

It's important for the department to take whatever time is necessary to complete a thorough investigation. At the conclusion of such an inquiry, however, it will be clear that there are no grounds for the appointment of an independent counsel.

Our investigation at the Star Tribune was thorough, involving thousands of pages of circulation records and hundreds of interviews with employees and independent contractors. We see no need to restate any circulation numbers reported [to the Audit Bureau of Circulation] by the newspaper.

We really don't know where they got the number. Our investigation does not reflect the basis for that number.

At this stage we are uncertain who were behind these acts of vandalism but a thorough investigation, both through our internal structures as well as through the SAPS, is under way.