MSNBC has announced the indefinite suspension, without pay, of evening talk-show host Keith Olbermann.

Olbermann, a feisty, intensely partisan, often unhinged talker whose fiercely aggressive attacks on individuals and policies to the right of President Obama and outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought him both admiration and contempt, admitted to having given the maximum amount to three Democratic candidates for Congress.

MSNBC policy forbids open political activity such as campaign contributions.

Rival FOX News does not prohibit its opinion-show hosts from making campaign contributions, and Olbermann had been intensely critical of News Corp. political donations this year, using his MSNBC show to accuse FOX news of being “the Republican news channel.”

More on this story from The Wall Street Journal here.

Update, Nov. 8: MSNBC has reinstated Olbermann to his show beginning Tuesday, after he issued a public letter of apology to his fans, in which he criticized NBC for having the policy and “inconsistently” applying it. He thanked viewers for their support.