US newspaper the Washington Times may be bought back by its founder the Rev. Sun Myung Moon from his eldest son Preston Moon, former Times staffers with knowledge of the negotiations told the Washington Post.
Preston Moon has threatened to shut down the struggling broadsheet altogether, Charles Sutherland, the Times's former director of development and promotions, who was laid off in May, told the Washington Post.
Moon, who is 90, has tapped Dong Moon Joo, former Times chairman who was ousted last year by Preston Moon, to purchase and run the paper, the daily said.
Messages left by at Joo's home and with his attorney were not returned on August 24, the Washington Post said. Executives of the daily newspaper, started in 1982 by Unification Church founder Rev. Moon, have been looking into a possible sale of the newspaper, which has slashed staff in recent months in order to cut costs.