In an interview with Politico’s Dylan Byers, ABC News host George Stephanopoulos apologized for donating $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation, and announced that he would not moderate ABC News’ Republican presidential debate. (RELATED: ABC’s George Stephanopoulos Failed To Disclose $75K Clinton Foundation Donation)
“In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have [donated], even though I did it for the best reasons,” the former Clinton White House communications director admitted. “I’m sorry to both the ABC viewers and to my colleagues, but I intend to move forward and prove that I can do the job every single day.”
At the same time, Stephanopolous admitted another mistake on his part; while ABC News had originally reported that he had given only $50,000 to the Clinton Foundation, he had actually donated $75,000 over three years.
Stephanopolous previously moderated a Republican primary debate in 2011, and was considered a favorite to moderate ABC News’ Republican primary debate next February. “I won’t moderate that debate,” Stephanopoulos said. “I know there have been questions made about moderating debates this year. I want to be sure I don’t deprive moderators or viewers of a good debate.”
The announcement came after at least one GOP contender, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, said he shouldn’t moderate the debate. “It’s impossible to divorce yourself from that… there would be a conflict of interest if he tried to be a moderator of any sort,” Paul said.