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Doctored video tweeted by Mike Leach may have cost WSU $1.6 million

A spokesperson for Washington State University said some donors altered their plans for future contributions after head football coach Mike Leach retweeted a doctored video of former President Barack Obama in June.

PULLMAN, Wash. — A tweet of a doctored video of former President Barack Obama sent by Washington State University head football coach Mike Leach in June may have cost the school $1.6 million.

Vice President for Marketing and Communications Phil Weiler said the tweet did not result in donors asking for their money back, but some did say they altered their plans for future giving.

“These were primarily estate gifts that would have been paid out upon the donor’s death. These future estate gifts would have totaled $1.6 million,” said Weiler.

Also see | Mike Leach's tweet of an anti-Obama hoax showed why many schools won't hire him

Also see | 5 thoughts from WSU’s Mike Leach that have nothing to do with football

WSU President Kirk Schulz has said it is probably too early to predict the actual impact on future giving.

After Leach tweeted the doctored video, Deadspin said he spent four hours fighting with people over the accuracy of the video. He later deleted the tweet.

Leach tweeted a correction, sort of.

He posted a link to the complete speech and said, “I agree that the video was incomplete. However, I believe discussion on how much or how little power that our Gov should have is important......Remarks by the President in Address to European Youth.”

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