Fox’s Bret Baier Walks Back Flawed Reporting About “Likely” Clinton Indictment
Source: Media Matters
Fox News Bret Baier walked back his November 2 claim, which was based on two unnamed sources, that FBI investigations relating to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will continue to likely an indictment. On the November 3 edition of Foxs Happening Now, Baier described his comments as inartful, acknowledging that thats not the process. Baiers uncritical reporting of anonymous, unvetted sources has been parroted by a stream of Fox hosts and correspondents, as well as right-wing blogs.
The Daily Beast has reported on a pipeline between conservative FBI agents (both active and retired) -- angered by FBI Director James Comeys conclusion in July that there was insufficient evidence to recommend any indictment in the review of Clintons use of private email as secretary of state -- and Fox News. According to The Daily Beast, Trump supporters with strong ties to the agency kept talking about surprises and leaks to come -- and come they did. From the November 3 edition of Fox News Happening Now:
MARTHA MACCALLUM (CO-HOST): The FBI sources that you spoke with suggest that an indictment is likely. That would prove -- go ahead.
BRET BAIER: I want to be clear -- I want to be clear about this, and this was -- came from a Q and A that I did with Brit Hume after my show and after we went through everything. He asked me if, after the election, if Hillary Clinton wins, will this investigation continue, and I said, yes absolutely. I pressed the sources again and again what would happen. I got to the end of that and said, they have a lot of evidence that would, likely lead to an indictment. But thats not, thats inartfully answered. Thats not the process. Thats not how you do it. You have to have a prosecutor. If they don't move forward with a prosecutor with the DOJ, there would be, I'm told, a very public call for an independent prosecutor to move forward. There is confidence in the evidence, but for me to phrase it like I did, of course that got picked up everywhere, but the process is different than that.
Read more: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/11/03/fox-s-bret-baier-walks-back-flawed-reporting-about-likely-clinton-indictment/214274?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MediaMattersForAmerica-All+%28Media+Matters+for+America%29
Trump today repeated this story as true.
In 2006, one of the most respected television journalists in US history, Dan Rather, was fired because he relied on faulty documents regarding a true story (George W. Bush's AWOL during his Texas National Guard Service).
Meanwhile, a complete hack like Bret Baier can throw bullshit against the wall 5 days before an election claiming that the Clintons are going to be "indicted" by the FBI, Trump gladly parrots the bullshit, and I'm sure Fox won't think twice about what he just did.
It's a sad, sad state of affairs.
louis-t
(23,295 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,658 posts)heads should roll on shit like this.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)should pardon Hillary on his way out the door. I'm thinking that may be the only way to allow her to be President.
forest444
(5,902 posts)What McCaul and his ilk are talking about is basically an institutional coup d'état not unlike what Brazil's fascists did to President Dilma Rousseff recently.
And yes, two-thirds of the right-wingers who voted for Rousseff's impeachment, are under indictment for corruption themselves - not unlike most of our GOP congresscritters, if they were to ever be seriously investigated.
Euphoria
(448 posts)by a neighbor gleefully planting Trump Pence signs with attached handwritten signs declaring "Hillary for Prison". He ran over to me
And ecstatically declared,
"The indictment will come down tonight."
I replied, "Fox News or Breitbart?"
And continued on my way.
What is life like for that person...?
still_one
(92,192 posts)and reported it on their news feed. Him and his f**king anonymous sources within the FBI
Heads really need to roll for this garbage. To the other outlets credit, I didn't see them piggy backing on Baier's bullshit of a "pending indictment", however, they have thrown out their own false narratives not based on any facts also.
They are all a bunch of hacks
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)is that his sources aren't even in the FBI. They're "sources close to the fbi". They're lying about everything.
still_one
(92,192 posts)don't remember that it wasn't true
This is the trash we have to put up with. "some sources are said to say", blah blah blah
There really need to be a standard set for honesty in reporting the news. I am not talking about honest mistakes, I am talking about deliberately misstating facts
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)No sourcing, no back up, nothing at all. Just repeat whatever bullshit talking points they're told. They've become useless and I blame 24 hour cable.
still_one
(92,192 posts)anneboleyn
(5,611 posts)Fahrenthold451
(436 posts)"Dammit Murphy, I can't arrest Smith on innuendo! The charges will never stick and he'll have his lawyer so far up my ass I'll be whistling Dixie. Get back on the streets and give me something I can really use!!!!"
Then the cops go to a dusty bar, order some shots and grouse about how unfair it all is.
Yeah, that's what happened at the FBI. And Bret fucking Baier is the bartender.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)There's no other way to put it. She needs to clean house and set those bastards straight--they work for the American people, not the Republican party.
yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,182 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)anneboleyn
(5,611 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)anneboleyn
(5,611 posts)Let me guess -- his sources are from NY and are Guiliani buddies?! Now he is rolling back his rollback -- he is claiming his super secret sources are telling him this over the Clinton foundation crap (and an FBI non-"investigation" inspired by a debunked junk "book" is SO responsible).
I can't believe this bullshit. The FBI needs to be scoured like a bathroom that hasn't seen a mop in twenty years. It is Fox (and we know Fox is 100% propaganda) but it seems unbelievably, recklessly biased and blatantly, insanely political on the part of his FBI "sources" to be telling Brett stuff that has no way of being checked. But oh no the FBI isn't a political entity, and Comey et al are operating in a totally neutral manner...(barf)
mdbl
(4,973 posts)sounds like her method of BS sidestep..
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)riversedge
(70,228 posts)this MIS information today at his rallies
riversedge
(70,228 posts)to look into their investigation, but that Fox Bret USED it on his show last night.
Also ripping how Rudy G. is involved.
riversedge
(70,228 posts)up their sleeve.