NBC has remained silent after pulling a video from Friday’s edition of Today that purported to have exclusive new information on the assault on Paul Pelosi.
Both Friday’s NBC Nightly News and Saturday’s Today reported on the latest developments surrounding Pelosi, but only visitors to NBC’s website would see “This piece has been removed from publication because it did not meet NBC News reporting standards.”
To find out why it failed to meet standards, readers would have to rely on other outlets to learn that the anonymous sources were deemed to be unreliable. Eventually, using anonymous sources would backfire on the media and it just so happened to occur while the media has frequently accused conservatives of spreading conspiracy theories about the incident.
Introducing national correspondent Miguel Almaguer, host Craig Melvin hyped the upcoming report as containing “some exclusive new details.”
Teasing the report, Almaguer declared, “When officers arrived here at the Pelosi home exactly a week ago today they initially didn’t have any idea exactly what was going on. They knew they had a high priority call on their hand. What was unclear, what was happening inside the property just behind me.”
In his now-deleted report, Almaguer also touted, “NBC News learning new details about the moments police arrived. Sources familiar with what unfolded in the Pelosi residence now revealing when officers responded to the high priority call they were seemingly unaware they’d been called to the Speaker of the House.”
Almaguer also reported that Pelosi was the one who opened the door to police, that he “did not immediately declare an emergency or try to leave his home,” that he “began walking several feet back into the foyer toward the assailant and away from police,” and that “it’s unclear if” he “was already injured or what his mental state was.”
From then on, Alaguer returned to more solid ground as he cited the police report, but NBC still refuses to issue an on-air correction for Friday’s errors.
Friday’s deleted segment was sponsored by CarMax.
Here is a transcript of the November 4 show:
NBC's Today
11/4/2022CRAIG MELVIN: We turn now to some exclusive new details on the attack on Paul Pelosi as the House Speaker’s husband has been released from the hospital. NBC national correspondent Miguel Almaguer joins us with the very latest on this. Miguel, good morning.
MIGUEL ALMAGUER: Craig, good morning. When officers arrived here at the Pelosi home exactly a week ago today they initially didn’t have any idea exactly what was going on. They knew they had a high priority call on their hand. What was unclear, what was happening inside the property just behind me.
This morning, Paul Pelosi is home, back at the house that became a crime scene a week ago today. NBC News learning new details about the moments police arrived. Sources familiar with what unfolded in the Pelosi residence now revealing when officers responded to the high priority call they were seemingly unaware they’d been called to the Speaker of the House.
After a knock and announce, the front door was opened by Mr. Pelosi. The 82-year old did not immediately declare an emergency or try to leave his home, but instead began walking several feet back into the foyer toward the assailant and away from police.
It’s unclear if the 82-year old was already injured or what his mental state was, say sources.
