ABC News had to issue a retraction and apology on Wednesday after the network accidentally reported that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort had plead guilty to five counts of manslaughter.
The chyron on ABC briefly read “Manafort pleads guilty to 5 charges of Manslaughter” while Trump was announcing his decision to sign and executive order temporarily ending family separations at the border. Manafort has been charged with various tax illegalities and is awaiting trial, but he has not been accused killing anyone.
“Manafort pleads guilty to
5 charges of Manslaughter”. I just spit out my coffee.
Nice flub ABC News. (Or maybe they know something we don’t??) pic.twitter.com/ysd3qvVOoh— Katie Carman-Lehach (@katiecarman) June 20, 2018
WATCH:
ABC News’ banner briefly reported this afternoon that Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to killing five people. (He has not) pic.twitter.com/ZnL94QJKOh
— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) June 20, 2018
ABC later tweeted a correction and apologized for the error.
“We regret and apologize for the false lower third graphic that aired during our special report,” they wrote. “We are investigating how incorrect information was in our system and how and why it was allowed to air.”
Statement from @ABC News: We regret and apologize for the false lower third graphic that aired during our special report. We are investigating how incorrect information was in our system and how and why it was allowed to air. (1/2)
— ABCNews PR (@ABCNewsPR) June 20, 2018
“There is simply no excuse for this sort of mistake,” they added.
(cont.) We apologize to our viewers and to Mr. Manafort. There simply is no excuse for this sort of mistake. (2/2)
— ABCNews PR (@ABCNewsPR) June 20, 2018