‘Three Cups Of Tea’ Author Under Fire

Greg Mortenson shows the locations of future village schools to U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Panjshir Valley, Afghanistan in 2009. (AP/Department of Defense)

Montana’s attorney general is investigating Greg Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute.

In his book, “Three Cups of Tea”, author Greg Mortenson described how he was rescued by the Pakistani villagers of Korphe when he wandered in lost and exhausted after a failed Himalayan climb. Mortenson said he felt grateful and returned to build a school for the town. The book became a best seller and Mortenson went on to found the Central Asia Institute to build schools all over the Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also went on to advise the U.S. military in Afghanistan.

Last April, journalist Jon Krakauer and “60 Minutes” raised questions about Mortenson’s story and said that Mortenson was misusing the funds he raised to build schools. That reporting led to a civil suit against Mortenson and CAI, and prompted Montana’s attorney general to begin a civil investigation which includes, according to the A.G’s office, “reviewing allegations of improper financial benefit to Greg Mortenson through the royalties, speaking fees, and travel reimbursements associated with the books Mr. Mortenson wrote, as well as financial oversight of the nonprofit by Mortenson and its board of directors.”

Alex Heard, the only journalist Mortenson has spoken with at length about the allegations, says “the case is now heating up, with important developments in the lawsuit and hints that the Attorney General’s probe could go badly for CAI.”

Producer’s Note: This story had initially said Montana’s Attorney General is considering “possible criminal fraud charges” against Greg Mortenson. The new wording reflects the following clarification from Attorney General Steve Bullock’s office:

“Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock’s office is conducting a civil investigation into nonprofit governance issues concerning the board and management of CAI. This includes reviewing allegations of improper financial benefit to Greg Mortenson through the royalties, speaking fees, and travel reimbursements associated with the books Mr. Mortenson wrote, as well as financial oversight of the nonprofit by Mortenson and its board of directors.

The investigation is not focused on determining the truth of information included in Mr. Mortenson’s books or whether that amounted to fraud.

The investigation of CAI and Mr. Mortenson is a high priority for this office, and we expect to make public the results of our investigation sometime in mid-March.”

Outside Magazine: The Trials of Greg Mortenson
Outside Magazine: Gregg Mortenson Speaks
Here & Now: Author Accused Of “Three Cups Of Deceit”
Here& Now Listen: Author Greg Mortenson

Guest:

Alex Heard, reporter from Outside Magazine

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

Iheartny4

Yes! Greg Mortenson is still honored in my eyes. He may not have been entirely forthcoming with his work in Pakistan and with the CAI, but he has done something many people believe they cannot do: he has (re)ignited the dreamer and humanitarian in those who read his books. As a high school teacher, who often times pulls from Three Cups of Tea in my classes, I can directly speak to his ability to make something that would under every other circumstance seem improbable, possible. He has inspired my students to open their eyes to the world with compassion and empathy…and that is enough for me. Be it a dream, he has created dreamers. Thank you, Mr. Mortenson!
Kar

Greg Mortenson is a fraud. Many of his claims have proven to be false and he hasn’t accounted for the all the donated money.

Charlene Owens

I find it difficult to believe someone who also was selling a book. There were no other people interviewed by 60 minutes. Perhaps, Krakow has profited from this article by notoriety and monetarily,

Wrbischoff

I will also continue to withhold judgement about Greg Mortenson until there is a lot more information. Part of the reason for this is because his book was written with a co-author who is never interviewed and has not spoken about the content of the book or what he saw in his travels with Greg Mortenson. One of my friends noted that lots of storytellers alter the story to make it more interesting. It doesn’t mean it isn’t substantially true, it just means that nobody was thinking about writing a book when the story began and so the details are a little fuzzy.
Setherington

Jon Krakauer had an axe to grind. He approached Mortenson way back at the beginning of the Central Asia Institute because he wanted to be involved. Mortenson said thanks, but no. Since then, Krakauer has been trying to insert himself into the mountaineering community, but no one wants to work with his harsh, eccentric personality.

This will all blow over soon. Visit CAIs website and see for yourself the amazing work that is happening.

Disappointed

I suggest you read Krakauer’s book, “Three Cups of Deceit,” or at least read the updates he’s been regularly posting on Byliner.com. From 1999-2003, Krakauer donated $75,000 to Mortenson when CAI was on the verge of going broke, and Mortenson gladly accepted the donations. In Mortenson’s books, he thanks Krakauer and calls him one of his biggest supporters. In 2004, the treasurer of the CAI board of directors told Krakauer to stop giving Mortenson money because Mortenson was using CAI “as his personal ATM.” That is why Krakauer wrote “Three Cups of Deceit.” Krakauer hasn’t made a nickel off his book. 100% of Krakauer’s proceeds from the book are donated directly from the book’s publishers (Byliner and Anchor Books) to the Stop Girl Trafficking program at the American Himalayan Foundation.

Charlene Owens

I live in Bozeman, Montana. Everyone who knows Greg in town are very supportive. I know Greg’s mother. I hired her to work in Yellowstone National Park and continued to work for many years. I never met Greg during his trips into the park. People at the Lake Store where his mother worked were impressed with his ability to just focus on you when speaking. I would find it difficult to believe that she was dishonest. She did say she didn’t know the story of Greg’s original troubled trip to the Himalayas until she read the book.

I am going to wait. A lot of what he says makes sense when dealing with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Beckyrose

Dear Robin,

Greg Mortensen embellished his experiences, solicited and received money from people who were convinced his story was factually correct. His story may have inspired others to dream and act on those dreams. However, a con game is still a con, whatever inspiration the victim may have gained. A successful con game requires at least one of three elements: greed, gullibility and goodness. The con artist works one or more of those to extract money from his or her intended victim. In Mortensen’s case, he was successful in manipulating the gullibility and goodness of his readers and listeners. No one of us is comfortable admitting to this kind of manipulation.

‘Forgiveness’ does not erase culpability. Each of us is responsible for our words and actions. Portraying a story as factually true is when it is not – let me be plain spoken – lying. Embellishment turns facts into fiction, or, at best, an opinion piece. Mr. Mortensen lied and received money based on those lies. That’s fraud under criminal and civil statutes.

Bozeman, MT
Mrg

I’m very pro-Greg and have never understood how people were/are so quick to believe the worst. He’s not perfect and perhaps embellished the stories in his book which doesn’t bother me. I’m sure others do that more often than not, including 60 Minutes. Their report definitely wasn’t fair or accurate. The good he’s done, risks he’s taken far outweigh the bad.
A.J. Jr.

The OUTSIDE article conversation between Krakauer and Ronnow is verbatim. The article does not say if they knew they were being taped or recorded without their permission. That would violate Colorado laws that could result in felony charges, and perhaps more lawsuits.�
With Krakauer allegedly hacking into Chinese accounts, and CBS TV eaves-dropping on Mortenson illegally – they all are desparate media measures to destroy Mortenson, under the auspices of First Amendment protection.

Colo. Rev. Stat § 18-9-304. Anyone who is not “visibly present” during a conversation who overhears or records the conversation without the consent of at least one of the parties commits a felony carrying the same punishment as a telephone interception, as does anyone who discloses the contents of such a conversation.

Colorado Rev. Stat. § 18-9-303: Recording or overhearing a telephone conversation, or any electronic communication, without the consent of a party to the conversation is a felony punishable by a fine of between $1,000 and $100,000 and one year to 18 months in jail. Recording of a communication from a cordless telephone, however, is a misdemeanor.

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-401. Colo. Rev. Stat § 18-9-304. Using or disclosing information obtained through illegal wiretapping is prohibited if there is reason to know the information was obtained illegally. Anyone who is not “visibly present” during a conversation who overhears or records the conversation without the consent of at least one of the parties commits a felony
Suzanne Jamison

Mortenson has admitted that he is a bad manager, sometimes fails, and is not a stickler for detail. Like most of us, he is a flawed human being, in his own words.

Krakauer, on the other hand, thinks he is one of the few, if only perfect human beings on this planet. As an atheist, he has says religion is only for those who think irrationally. Krakauer only knows how to judge and hate, but not forgive. How sad.

We need more people like Greg Mortenson. Its much easier to throw stones than build schools.
Robyn Puccio

The Montana Attorney General is doing an investigation of Greg Mortenson and Central Asia Institute. They are not considering fraud or criminal charges, as the headline implies.
Jon Krakauer often lies and creates mistruths in his books, and then changes the manuscripts like a revolving door. Just read the several editions of “Where Men Win Glory” where his attacks on General McChrystal intensify in each new editions, or multiple versions of “Under The Banner of Heaven” where Jon Krakauer attacks the Mormon church, or the worst which was his first book, “Into Thin Air” where he vilified Anatoli Boukrev, a brave Russian climber who risked his life again and again to save lives, while Krakauer was passed out in his tent.His book, “Three Cups of Deceit” was a coordinated publicity stunt to sell his books on Byliner, and help his friends at 60 Minutes increase their dismal television ratings, while destroying the chances of thousands of girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan to get an education. Krakauer’s karma will be ugly when it happens!
DHK

Let’s not rush to speedy judgments. It’s best to wait for the legal process to unfold. I trust much more in the Montana Attorney General than the biased liberal media who already claim to know what the Attorney General will do.�
After listening to this show, I discovered that the Montana Attorney General is a Democrat, running in an election campaign for governor. Let’s hope Greg Mortenson gets a thorough, but fair investigation and not be judged by political motives. There’s a lot a stake here.
Ghulam Nazir Ahmed

I am Pakistani, and my family know Greg Mortenson and his NGO team. He is not cheater or liar, and a simple man. He gives to humanity every time. My country is poor, and our people need education most. I think jealous people in America try to stop money and support for Muslim people, and they want to finish Greg Mortenson. This is no good.
Kathryn O’Hehir

I find it very interesting to see Alex Heard has joined the “Byliner.com” family and is cashing in on the Mortenson story like, well, an ATM machine, and there are a long line of people cashing in at that same machine.

Not that he ever really pretended to strive for balance to his story. Had I known he was going to hawk it on Byliner, I certainly would have refused to speak to him. He disagrees that this issue has no publication envy in print, but in emails prior to publication, he kept his opinion about that to himself. I emailed him to grow a pair and disagree with me face-to-face next time.

The very people pointing fingers at Mortenson as a fraud are cited “leaked” documents and Outside won’t give up it’s source on who actually overheard the conversation that was reprinted. They demand transparency from Mortenson and the CAI but do not feel any need to be transparent regarding their documents and documentation and the legalities of how they obtained those documents, verbal or written.