in his 2002 book, "blinded by the right", brock claimed that in order to maintain journalistic integrity, he agreed to write the troopergate article only if the four troopers whom he interviewed were not paid. in 1998, a conservative fundraiser, peter w. smith, admitted that he had set up a "troopergate whistle blower fund" to support the troopers and their legal fees. he also arranged for the troopers to give paid speeches. smith says he eventually paid about $80,000 on the case, including a $5,000 payment to brock. brock says the trooper payments were made without his knowledge.