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Does Jon Karl Have The Juice To Survive Benghazi Email Controversy?
In case you missed it, Jonathan Karl’s report on the 12 revisions to the Benghazi talking points contained multiple references to “emails” that Karl claimed to have alternately “obtained,” “reviewed,” and “(had) read to (him),” while other ABC News anchors also claimed Karl had “obtained” and “unearthed” the emails in question. Buried in the middle of that initial report was a muddy reference to “Summaries of White House and State Department email-some of which were first published by Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard,” and never identified those summaries as the source of his reporting. He presented those emails as direct quotes from actual emails. One such “email” was from White House adviser Ben Rhodes, which Karl reported like this:
In an email dated 9/14/12 at 9:34 p.m. — three days after the attack and two days before Ambassador Rice appeared on the Sunday shows – Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes wrote an email saying the State Department’s concerns needed to be addressed.
“We must make sure that the talking points reflect all agency equities, including those of the State Department, and we don’t want to undermine the FBI investigation. We thus will work through the talking points tomorrow morning at the Deputies Committee meeting.”
“We must make sure that the talking points reflect all agency equities, including those of the State Department, and we don’t want to undermine the FBI investigation. We thus will work through the talking points tomorrow morning at the Deputies Committee meeting.”
"Then, Jake Tapper actually did obtain one of the emails that Karl referenced, and clearly explained that Karl hadn’t actually seen any emails, or had any emails read to him. Here’s what the Ben Rhodes email really said:"
“All –
“Sorry to be late to this discussion. We need to resolve this in a way that respects all of the relevant equities, particularly the investigation.
“There is a ton of wrong information getting out into the public domain from Congress and people who are not particularly informed. Insofar as we have firmed up assessments that don’t compromise intel or the investigation, we need to have the capability to correct the record, as there are significant policy and messaging ramifications that would flow from a hardened mis-impression.
“We can take this up tomorrow morning at deputies.”
“Sorry to be late to this discussion. We need to resolve this in a way that respects all of the relevant equities, particularly the investigation.
“There is a ton of wrong information getting out into the public domain from Congress and people who are not particularly informed. Insofar as we have firmed up assessments that don’t compromise intel or the investigation, we need to have the capability to correct the record, as there are significant policy and messaging ramifications that would flow from a hardened mis-impression.
“We can take this up tomorrow morning at deputies.”
Even the best reporter can get played by a source with an ax to grind, but by presenting that source’s misinformation as a series of direct quotes from emails that the source made up, Jonathan Karl bought and paid for the consequences, and so did ABC News. They both owe their viewers, and this White House, an apology.
Much More from .. http://www.mediaite.com/tv/does-jon-karl-have-the-juice-to-survive-benghazi-email-fabrications/
Too bad Jon Karl has decided to go the way of the weasel.
7 replies
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