We all know Ron Burkle's side of the "Paid $ix" scandal, which began with Friday's Daily News cover story ripping apart the competition.

Then came the media's interpretation — and thanks to the tireless efforts by the New York Times staff, we know everything we've never wanted to believe about everyone who's ever worked in the gossip biz. But what we were really waiting for was contact from the other side. And finally, this afternoon, Jared Paul Stern speaks.

And though he didn't say much, in a brief phone interview, Stern assured us that he will soon be "fully exonerated" from the allegations brought by his paper's rival the Daily News.

Of course, he also directed us to ABC, where we find the winds of this story shifting slightly in the gossip writer turned clothing connoisseur's favor. (Bonus video interview with Michael Wolff included free of charge.)

Had there been clear-cut evidence that New York Post gossip writer Jared Paul Stern had tried to extort money or demand a bribe in exchange for ceasing negative portrayals of a supermarket billionaire, the FBI was prepared to arrest Stern as soon as the words tumbled out of his mouth in a secretly recorded meeting at the billionaire's Manhattan loft, a senior law enforcement official told ABC News.

But there was not.

Stern claims that he was singled out by Burkle, and was likely the Page Six staffer chosen because he and Burkle "have mutual acquaintances." And of course (enter plug) the clothing line. "I was just the guy he could get to," says Stern.

He also confides that "it is too soon to tell" what his status as a Post staffer will be — though Stern does seem confident he wil not be facing legal charges.

"The tide is turning," he said. "And I am going to be owed some apologies."

We assume he would like those apologies to come in the form of job offers … or Ron Burkle's head on a stick. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what those other shady trenchcoat wearing journalists come up with on this one. No pressure, ahem, 915 Broadway.

Sources: FBI Lacked Evidence Against Page Six Scribe [ABC]

Earlier: Paid $ix: It's not fun not talking to Jared Paul Stern
Earlier: Jared Paul Stern, brought to you by Campbell Robertson