Full Tilt Poker Boss Howard Lederer Backs Out of Latest Interview Citing ‘Stress on Family’

Full Tilt Poker one time head honcho Howard Lederer has come under fire in recent days for a series of interviews he took part in at two media sites (one a 7-hour long event). 

Lederer is accused by the US Government of taking part in an elaborate ponzi scheme involving Full Tilt Poker where he is alleged to have squandered millions of dollars in customers funds.  Lederer has begun to point the finger at other former FTP shareholders, some of whom he claims took out loans from the company. 

DiamondFlush.com was slated to be the next stop on the “Lederer Pity Tour” but alas he backed out last minute, citing a “hardship on his family”.   

From DiamondFlush.com:

My interview was promised even before the filming began for the Lederer Files. The timing was changed a few times and finally reconfirmed earlier this past week to happen this weekend, in fact, yesterday. I’ve spent many hours speaking to Howard these last weeks, and although he had some idea of my concern that the real story come out, he was never given any questions by me. I have little doubt, and he knows that I know, that he dodged plenty of bullets.

Yesterday morning, Howard let me know that our interview would not be happening after all. According to Howard, this whole interview process has been “much harder on [he] and his family than he expected”.  He agreed that he was reneging on our agreement, but made his decision final.

If Howard Lederer thought those prior interview hours were too stressful and hard on his family, he was right to cancel ours. I have no doubt that “stressful” would have been considered a huge understatement in the end.

Needless-to-say, the poker community had plenty to say about this latest stunt by Lederer.  Gambling911.com posted a video montage of Lederer saying “I Just Don’t Know” a few dozen times (or at least it seems).

One poster on the TwoPlusTwo.com posting forum said it best regarding Lederer’s reneging on the latest interview.

Damn i wanted to hear what else he didn't know.

PokerStars has acquired Full Tilt Poker and is set to re-launch the site the first week in November.  The US Government, meanwhile, is attempting to seize millions of dollar in money and assets from Lederer, which is enough to stress out anyone more than some interview might.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com