ABC’s World News Tonight and CBS Evening News each ran stories hyping the dishonest story in ProPublica which accuses Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito of being unethical in not reporting a trip he went on in 2008 that was paid for by a Republican donor. Meanwhile, ABC & CBS ignored former Special Counsel John Durham’s five hour long testimony before Congress in which he testified that evidence he uncovered during his probe into the origins of the Trump/Russia collusion hoax did not warrant the FBI opening up its investigation.
“This time, it's Justice Samuel Alito under scrutiny for luxury travel paid for by a billionaire Republican mega donor. ProPublica, a nonprofit media organization, reporting that in 2008, Justice Alito flew to Alaska for a fishing trip on a private jet that belonged to a hedge fund manager whose businesses brought several cases before the Supreme Court,” ABC’s justice correspondent Terry Moran lectured at the beginning of World News Tonight’s segment.
Moran added that “in a private photo obtained by ProPublica, did not pay for his flight and he did not report the trip on his annual financial disclosure forms.”
Meanwhile on CBS Evening News, Nikole Killion snarked “Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito hoisted a big catch during a 2008 trip to Alaska that came with big perks according to ProPublica.”
“That included free travel on a private jet chartered by hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer with $100,000 each way, plus lodging at a thousand-dollar-a-night resort covered free of charge by then owner, conservative donor Robin Arkley,” she added.
Killion did add that Alito “said he was not aware Singer had an interest in any party,” and that he “argued the flight was not consequential because the seat would have otherwise been vacant.”
It should be noted that ProPublica undermined their own reporting in the 73rd paragraph of their story sliming Alito. As our friends at The Daily Caller point out “ProPublica included a crucial detail in the 73rd paragraph of its story alleging Justice Samuel Alito violated ethics rules for failing to disclose a private jet ride he accepted: a federal judge, who went on the trip with Alito, previously asked the judiciary’s financial disclosure office for guidance on a similar trip and was told his transportation was not reportable.”
Maybe instead of reporting on 15 year old manufactured controversies, ABC & CBS should cover real stories that happened that day.
This biased reporting by ABC & CBS was made possible by Angi & Liberty Mutual. Their information is linked.
To read the transcripts, click “expand.”
ABC’s World News Tonight
6/21/2023
6:43:54 p.m. EasternTERRY MORAN: This time, it's Justice Samuel Alito under scrutiny for luxury travel paid for by a billionaire Republican mega donor. ProPublica, a nonprofit media organization, reporting that in 2008, Justice Alito flew to Alaska for a fishing trip on a private jet that belonged to a hedge fund manager whose businesses brought several cases before the Supreme Court. Alito, seen here on that fishing trip, in a private photo obtained by ProPublica, did not pay for his flight and he did not report the trip on his annual financial disclosure forms. Paul Singer, the hedge-fund billionaire, is one of the Republican Party's biggest donors. His hedge fund later had cases come before the high court, one of which was heard. Justice Alito didn't recuse himself.
CBS Evening News
6/21/2023
6:38:40 p.m. EasternNIKOLE KILION: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito hoisted a big catch during a 2008 trip to Alaska that came with big perks according to ProPublica. That included free travel on a private jet chartered by hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer with $100,000 each way, plus lodging at a thousand-dollar-a-night resort covered free of charge by then owner, conservative donor Robin Arkley.
SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI): The connection between Supreme Court Justices and right-wing billionaires is a very legitimate matter of concern.
KILION: After the trip, Singer’s hedge fund came before the high court nearly ten times, Alito never recused himself and in one case voted with the 7-1 majority in Singer’s favor, his firm was ultimately awarded $2.4 billion. A spokesperson for Singer said he never discussed his business interest with Justice Alito. The Justice said he was not aware Singer had an interest in any party. Alito failed to disclose the private jet travel on an annual financial disclosure form, a potential federal violation. He argued the flight was not consequential because the seat would have otherwise been vacant.
