AP has an absolute obligation to reveal their source for (fake) McAuliffe story

[cthulu2016]

The AP reported last night that the TM in a 2011 indictment was Terry McAuliffe. Less than two hours later they retracted the story since, upon examination, the TM in the indictment was obviously not Terry McAuliffe.

Who fed them the fake story? It must have been someone pretty high up somewhere, with some connection to the case and seemingly in a position to positively identify the TM as McAuliffe. (Even the AP wouldn't make an identification from initials.)

Who fed them the story? That is much, much bigger news than the bogus story ever was.

When sources lie knowingly to use the media, the media MUST out the source.

The Associated Press quickly retracted a story published Wednesday night that reported that Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe lied to a federal official investigating a fraud scheme.

The report identified McAuliffe as the individual referred to as "T.M." in a 2011 indictment related to the criminal investigation of Rhode Island estate planner Joseph Caramadre, the man who reportedly created a scheme to steal death benefit annuities from people.

The original Associated Press report said that McAuliffe "lied to a federal official investigating a Rhode Island estate planner now imprisoned for receiving death benefits on annuities secured on terminally ill people without their knowledge." The original story went on to say "that McAuliffe misled a federal postal inspector who was inquiring about a $2,000 check Caramadre had sent him."

The T.M. that the Associated Press report said referred to McAuliffe turned out to refer to someone else, someone who apparently worked in construction.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/associated-press-retracts-report-that-terry-mcauliffe-lied-to-federal-official

https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/388135934266339328/photo/1

[Dawson Leery]

1. Indeed. Terry Mac will be the next Governor.

[DURHAM D]

2. I think it was a long time DUer. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I deny having had any role in this incident.

It was Will Pitt.

[FourScore]

9. More likely it was a conspiracy -- I'm thinking Will Pitt and California Peggy...

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Sure, blow everyone's cover.

I was trying to feed them Pitt in order to save Peggy.

[rhett o rick]

12. Looks to me like a clear call-out. An alert is in order here.

jk

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. Don'y be silly, T.M. is OBVIOUSLY Third-Way Manny.

[FSogol]

3. K & R. n/t

[carolinayellowdog]

4. another nail in the coffin of the Cuccinelli campaign

I think there were already enough, but this can't help hurting him further

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. The AP fell for the oldest trick?

[Orrex]

7. I was sure that it was Tyler Mane

[surrealAmerican]

8. It might just be a good idea for them for another reason too.

They don't really want anonymous sources punking them like this. It's in their interests to deter others from emulating this behavior.

[geek tragedy]

11. Or maybe the reporter jumped to his own conclusion, revealing his bias and incompetence, nt

[DallasNE]

14. That Is Not About To Happen

Did Jonathan Karl disclose just who the Republican officials were that fed him the doctored email's on Benghazi? Actually, Karl was given greater responsibility at ABC. This sells copy plus it fits the false equivalency policy of media today, never mind the assured continuation of doctored/false reports. It is like handing a bank robber the keys to a getaway car. Same ethics, same result. Money corrupts absolutely and this is just another example of just how true this is.

[spanone]

15. a lie goes around the world before the truth gets it's boots on....the media knows this.

truth is insignificant to the media in these troubled times

[alfredo]

16. Doesn't the AP have right wing ties?

[Thor_MN]

17. I do not work in construction, so it ain't me...