NewsBusters has kept track of the liberal media’s lack of or minimal coverage of many of the scandals plaguing Democratic politicians (you can read about some of them here), but ABC and NBC shockingly reported on the mayor of Baltimore getting raided by the FBI and the IRS on Thursday. Meanwhile, the CBS Evening News omitted the story entirely from its broadcast.
Fill-in anchor Tom Llamas only gave the story a news brief lasting only 24 seconds on ABC’s World News Tonight and brushed over the details:
And back here at home, federal agents swept into homes and offices connected to Baltimore's mayor today. FBI and IRS agents were seen going into city hall and leaving her home, as well, with boxes and other materials. Mayor Catherine Pugh is under fire for a book she wrote and then sold to companies with business before the city and to a hospital when she was a board member. Calls for her to resign are mounting.
It's worth noting that Llamas failed to report that Mayor Pugh was a Democrat.
Shockingly, NBC Nightly News dedicated a full report to this bad news for a Democrat. “Let's turn to the scandal rocking the City of Baltimore. FBI agents today raiding the home and offices of a big-city mayor. Pete Williams now with details on why the feds made their move,” announced anchor Lester Holt.
“Agents from the FBI and the IRS searched the home of Mayor Catherine Pugh of Baltimore today, and her office in City Hall where she hasn't been for more than three weeks,” reported Justice correspondent Pete Williams. A mayor not being in their office for more than three weeks was an important detail Llamas left out.
Williams also highlighted how “Baltimore's entire city council has urged Mayor Pugh, who is a Democrat, to quit. And today, Maryland’s Republican Governor, Larry Hogan tweeted, ‘For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh should resign.’”
“Today’s searches were the first sign federal authorities are investigating suggesting they’re looking at more than just the book deals,” he added.
Instead of covering this story, CBS dedicated a full report to World Penguin Day and melting ice. They also spent over three minutes cheering on former Vice President Joe Biden.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
April 25, 2019
6:40:10 p.m. EasternTOM LLAMAS: And back here at home, federal agents swept into homes and offices connected to Baltimore's mayor today. FBI and IRS agents were scene going into city hall and leaving her home, as well, with boxes and other materials. Mayor Catherine Pugh is under fire for a book she wrote and then sold to companies with business before the city and to a hospital when she was a board member. Calls for her to resign are mounting.
NBC Nightly News
April 25, 2019
7:08:52 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Let's turn to the scandal rocking the city of Baltimore. FBI agents today raiding the home and offices of a big-city mayor. Pete Williams now with details on why the feds made their move.
[Cuts to video]
PETE WILLIAMS: Agents from the FBI and the IRS searched the home of Mayor Catherine Pugh of Baltimore today, and her office in City Hall where she hasn't been for more than three weeks.
Their involvement is more bad news for the Mayor already under state investigation over the hundreds of thousands of dollars, she earned selling her series of children's books to a health plan that does business with the city, and the University of Maryland medical system she once helped oversee. Just before vanishing from office, she apologized.
CATHERINE PUGH: I am deeply sorry for any lack of confidence or disappointment, which this initiative may have caused.
WILLIAMS: Today’s searches were the first sign federal authorities are investigating suggesting they’re looking at more than just the book deals. Baltimore's entire city council has urged Mayor Pugh, who is a Democrat, to quit. And today, Maryland’s Republican governor, Larry Hogan tweeted, “For the good of the city, Mayor Pugh should resign.”
Tonight, her lawyers say she's, quote, “entitled to the presumption of innocence.” Pete Williams, NBC News, Washington.
