Keep in mind that several of your most trusted news sources ran with this story like it was gospel. Drudge, Breitbart, Fox News etc.
Fun watching the dummies in MSM, Drudge and even Breitbart take Fake News from ABC News and spread it around like it's gospel. Flynn plea agreement says nothing about Trump. Liars.
— Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) December 1, 2017
ABC News on Friday evening corrected an explosive special report that aired in the morning saying that Donald Trump, as a candidate for president, had asked Michael Flynn to make contact with Russians.
During “World News Tonight,” ABC News investigative reporter Brian Ross said the source who had provided the initial information for his story later told him that it was as president-elect, not as a candidate, that Trump asked Flynn to contact the Russians.
The initial report, based on one anonymous source, prompted a dramatic reaction in the financial markets, and the Dow fell more than 350 points.
The sharp slide in the stock market came within minutes of an ABC News report that Flynn is prepared to testify that Trump directed him to make contact with Russians. https://t.co/0Muyz3cZfZ pic.twitter.com/PtBgdLY3CC
— CNN Business (@CNNBusiness) December 1, 2017
Several hours later, a spokesperson for the network told CNN that Ross would be issuing a “clarification” on “World News Tonight,” which airs at 6:30 p.m. ET.
A tweet published by ABC News containing Ross’ initial report had been retweeted more than 25,000 times and embedded in various news stories online before it was deleted. ABC posted a “clarification” on Twitter around 8 p.m.
Shortly before 11 p.m., after a barrage of criticism, ABC posted a new tweet with the header “Correction” instead of “Clarification” followed by the same text as the prior tweet. The original tweet was deleted.
CORRECTION of ABC News Special Report: Flynn prepared to testify that President-elect Donald Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians *during the transition* — initially as a way to work together to fight ISIS in Syria, confidant now says. https://t.co/ewrkVZTu2K pic.twitter.com/URLiHf3uSm
— ABC News (@ABC) December 2, 2017
(…)
We didn't bite on the original and would not spread ABC's Fake News. Most others did and in fact it sent the Stock Market into a dive. Media companies need to wise up, stop chasing clicks. https://t.co/pF1JgCp9KT
— Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) December 2, 2017
[contentcards url=”http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/01/media/abc-news-flynn-correction/index.html” target=”_blank”]Fake News King. Congrats to Drudge, Breitbart for spreading ABC'S horse manure today on Trump/Flynn. https://t.co/tBW2USKDA7
— Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) December 1, 2017