As a former reporter on the local and state government beat in Virginia (among other places), tonight's royal fuck-up by the Associated Press really pisses me off.
Just over an hour ago, the "esteemed" AP breathlessly reported this campaign-busting scoop:
Documents in a federal fraud case allege that Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry 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.A 2011 fraud, conspiracy and identity theft indictment against Joseph Caramadre and an aide, Raymour Radhakrishnan, also alleges that McAuliffe misled a federal postal inspector who was inquiring about a $2,000 check Caramadre had sent him.
Wow, that's it for old Terry, I thought to myself when I saw the story break. Just when it looked like he had this thing wrapped up.Those thoughts were echoed by throngs of reporters and right wing blogs, who eagerly pounced on the story--the latter gleefully chortling that this article would change everything in the Virginia gubernatorial race. Breaking: AP: McAuliffe lied to federal investigator in fraud case was one headline at right-wing fruitcake blog Hot Air.
The only problem was, as the AP has now conceded, the story was completely untrue. The AP has further more or less admitted their only evidence tying McAuliffe to the case was mention of a certain "T.M." in the body of a court filing.
