ABC News aired a graphic today that claimed Paul Manafort, the former Donald Trump campaign chairman, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The graphic read, “Manafort pleads guilty to 5 charges of manslaughter.”
Manafort was sent to jail last week after pleading not guilty to witness tampering and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Previously, he was charged with “conspiracy, money laundering and other charges” by special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
In a statement posted on Twitter, ABC News PR said “We regret and apologize for the false lower third graphic that aired during our special report. We are investigating how incorrect information was in our system and how and why it was allowed to air. We apologize to our viewers and to Mr. Manafort. There simply is no excuse for this sort of mistake.”
iMediaEthics has written to ABC News to ask for more information
According to The Wrap, “The report aired briefly during ABC’s coverage of an executive order President Trump plans to sign which is expected to end his policy of separating the families of undocumented migrants at the U.S. border.”