Ex-media mogul Conrad Black defiant on British satirical show, claims innocence

LONDON – Former media mogul Conrad Black has appeared on a British satirical show, defying the program’s mockery of his convictions in the U.S. and claiming innocence.

Satirists on the show “Have I Got News For You” made constant jokes at the expense of Black, who used to control papers including the Chicago Sun-Times and Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

But Black insisted on the show, which aired Friday, that he was wrongly convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice.

Earlier this week, he clashed with two British journalists, hurling insults at them and criticizing their questions.

He told veteran interviewer Jeremy Paxman that he was proud to have endured their exchange without “smashing your face in.”

Black was released from a U.S. prison in May, and is promoting his new book.