According to WJLA.com (ABC7 in Washington): Joseph L. Allbritton, founder of Allbritton Communications, parent company of ABC7, NewsChannel 8, POLITICO, died today at 87 of heart ailments.
As control of Allbritton Communications is already in the hands of his son Robert, it is unlikely that the death of its founder will affect the day-to-day operations of Politico.