Wiki's Wales Accused of Inappropriate Spending

Jimmy Wales has been hit with allegations that he abused his position as founder of Wikipedia, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. A former Wikipedia employee, Danny Wool, has claimed on his blog that Wales used his Wikimedia Foundation credit card for personal expenses. Meanwhile, a former girlfriend released chat transcripts between her and Wales that indicate he edited her Wikipedia entry to remove unfavorable information.

Executives at Wikimedia Foundation are solidly behind Wales, denying any inappropriate expenses, but an internal email from chairwoman Florence Devouard acquired by the AP indicates otherwise. In it, she chastises Wales for asking them to cover a $1,300 steak dinner tab, despite also reporting to fellow board members that she had convinced the AP that “the money story was a no story.” (More Jimmy Wales stories.)