Earlier, we told you Page Six had taken a preemptive strike at former freelancer Jared Paul Stern in a lengthy item entitled "Lies & Smears Aimed At The Post." Despite the fact that, as recently as four months ago, the very same column attempted to cast Stern as a martyr, today they opted to actively discredit him, addressing his defamatory allegations—and the incendiary Ian Spiegelman email—head on, and contesting the litany of charges in advance of the upcoming court battle.

And though the Posties predictably brushed aside most of the charges and as complete and utter falsehoods, they did, however, acknowledge that, on one regrettable occasion, Page Six's Richard Johnson made a "grave mistake" in accepting a $1,000 gift from restaurateur Nello Balan back in 1997, and they offer a prompt (albeit rather vague) apology for this transgression.

Following this morning's testimonial in the NYP, The Smoking Gun re-examined the circumstances surrounding the Payola Six scandal, and questioned whether or not their apology addressed all of the relevant facts.

Answering Spiegelman's claim that Johnson divvied up a $3000 payoff delivered in 1997 by restaurateur Nello Balan, Page Six admitted that Johnson actually pocketed $1000 in cash, a "grave mistake" that led to him to be "reprimanded," according to Post editor Col Allan. What the column doesn't reveal, however, is when Johnson fessed up about pocketing the money. Allan didn't become the newspaper's editor until 2001. Additionally, Spiegelman describes the cash as payment for a "favorable mention" of Balan's Madison Avenue restaurant in the column, while today's Page Six response terms the money a "Christmas gift." The Post also does not say whether Balan's Page Six payouts extended beyond 1997, though the experience of Daily News gossip columnist George Rush indicates that Balan's proclivity to stuff envelopes did not end a decade ago.

Ultimately, today's NYP bombshell raises more questions than it does provide answers, leaving all of us to simply wonder (hell, eagerly anticipate) what else will be revealed should this case proceed to trial.