Yesterday, ABC News’ Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross first reported inaccurate information regarding the guilty plea of Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.
During a live Special Report, it was reported that a confiant of Flynn said that Flynn was prepared to testify that then-candidate Donald Trump instructed him to contact Russian officials during the campaign. That source later clarified that during the campaign, Trump assigned Flynn and a small circle of other senior advisers to find ways to repair relations with Russia and other hot spots. It was shortly after the election, that President-elect Trump directed Flynn to contact Russian officials on topics that included working jointly against ISIS.
The initial incorrect report was retweeted more than 25,000 times and was linked to a major downturn in the stock market.
ABC has now released a statement revealing that they are suspending Brian Ross:
We deeply regret and apologize for the serious error we made yesterday. The reporting conveyed by Brian Ross during the special report had not been fully vetted through our editorial standards process. As a result of our continued reporting over the next several hours ultimately we determined the information was wrong and we corrected the mistake on air and online.
It is vital we get the story right and retain the trust we have built with our audience –- these are our core principles. We fell far short of that yesterday. Effective immediately, Brian Ross will be suspended for four weeks without pay.
UPDATE (12/3/17): Yesterday, President Trump weighed in Ross, congratulating ABC for suspending him:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/937145025359761408
However, this morning the President suggested that investors should sue the network because of the initial report’s effect on the stock market:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/937309279257792512
On Friday morning, after the report was broadcast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 350 points. It later rebounded to close down 41 points for the day.
