NBC Was Wrong: Federal Charges Have Not Been “Ruled Out” for Gov. Christie
You may have seen right wing sites trumpeting a report on last night’s NBC Nightly News in which Brian Williams said that federal charges against New Jersey governor Chris Christie in the “Bridgegate” scandal had been ruled out. This report led to an orgy of football-spiking, all over the right wing blogs.
But, uh, Brian Williams was wrong.
NEWARK - NBC says a report by Brian Williams on the network’s Nightly News that federal charges have been ruled out for Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge scandal was incorrect.
Federal prosecutors say the investigation is ongoing and haven’t made any announcement on Christie’s status.
“The investigation is continuing,” said Rebekah Carmichael, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman.
NBC outlets had several reports Thursday and Friday citing anonymous sources saying no Christie connection had been uncovered while noting the investigation is continuing. However, Williams on NBC Nightly News Thursday night reported that “federal charges are now ruled out for Chris Christie in the affair that came to be known as Bridgegate.”
NBC spokeswoman Erika Masonhall said that was wrong.