Talk Show radio Host Randi Rhodes mugged

The Talking Radio blog reported on Tuesday that liberal Air American talk radio host Randi Rhodes was mugged and brutally attacked while walking her dog near 39th Street and Park Avenue.

"According to Air America Radio late night host Jon Elliott, Rhodes was beaten up pretty badly, losing several teeth and will probably be off the air for at least the rest of the week. At of late Monday night we have not able to locate any press accounts of the attack and nothing has been posted on the AAR website....Elliott was extremely agitated when he reported on the incident. He opened his show by saying "it is with sadness that tonight I inform you that my Air America colleague Randi Rhodes was assaulted last night while walking her dog near her New York City home."

Pointing out that Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and displayed no purse or jewelry, Elliott speculated that "this does not appear to me to be a standard grab the money and run mugging."

Air American fellow host Jon Elliott announced on his show early Tuesday morning.

"It is with sadness that tonight I inform you that my Air America colleague Randi Rhodes was assaulted last night while walking her dog near her New York City home," Elliott told his listeners this morning on Air America."

The attack took place near the corner of 39th Street and Park Avenue, Elliot said.

Because Rhodes was wearing a jogging suit and had neither a purse nor jewelry, Elliott speculated that "this does not appear to me to be a standard grab the money and run mugging."

The Air America Web site posted a notice Tuesday stating the popular talk radio personality "experienced an unfortunate incident" on Sunday evening that prevented her from hosting her show, but stated "reports of a presumed hate crime are unfounded."

The site stated Rhodes was expected to return to the broadcast on Thursday.