MSNBC Suspends Keith Olbermann

MSNBC firebrand Keith Olbermann has been suspended from the network indefinitely and without pay.

The cable news network announced it has taken Olbermann off the air because he contributed $2,400 each to three Democratic candidates for the House and Senate in Tuesday's elections.

MSNBC President Phil Griffin said, "I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC news policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay."

But Olbermann defended his donations, saying, "I did not privately or publicly encourage anyone else to donate to these campaigns, nor to any others."

Olbermann is the highest rated personality on MSNBC, reportedly at a salary of $4 million a year.

He has been in a long-running feud with archrival Bill O'Reilly.