SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In the showdown over dueling roles as chief executive of California and figurehead for muscle magazines, the nation's best-known former bodybuilder chose politics over striking poses.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday he will end his consulting deal with Muscle & Fitness and Flex magazines, pulling the plug on at least $5 million in payments from the glossies that rely on advertising from nutritional supplement companies.
"As long as I'm governor, I will not continue the relationship," Schwarzenegger said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The former Mr. Universe was forced to defend his contract with the magazines after a securities disclosure filed this week showed he would be paid at least $1 million a year for five years as a consultant.
Critics said the work was a conflict of interest because the publications derive much of their profits from advertisements for dietary supplements. Last year, Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill to impose restrictions on such substances.
Saturday, July 16, 2005 at 06:29 