AP retracts story on Terry McAuliffe lie claim

[mahatmakanejeeves]

AP retracts story on Terry McAuliffe lie claim
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/associated-press-retracts-story-terry-mcauliffe-lie-claim-virginia-governor-race-2013-98119.html

By ELIZABETH TITUS | 10/9/13 11:47 PM EDT Updated: 10/10/13 2:42 PM EDT

A chaotic episode erupted in the Virginia gubernatorial race late Wednesday, as The Associated Press published and then retracted a story that said court documents alleged Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe had lied to a federal official.

AP sent a news alert at 9:45 p.m. that read “Court records: McAuliffe lied to postal inspector investigating RI death benefits scam,” followed by a story. The story said McAuliffe’s campaign had not responded to requests for comment.
....

Observers marveled over the developments in a race that has already been marred by accusations of unethical behavior by both sides — McAuliffe and his Republican opponent, Ken Cuccinelli. They have mainly concerned McAuliffe’s involvement in the car company GreenTech and Cuccinelli’s acceptance of gifts from embattled Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams.

“Say what you will about Cuccinelli, and many of his troubles are self-inflicted,” tweeted Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, “but man this guy cannot catch a break.”

[PoliticAverse]

1. AP's followup story, acknowledging the retraction....

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcauliffe-investors-list-ri-benefits-case-20527913

There is no allegation of wrongdoing by McAuliffe or that he or other investors knew of efforts to defraud the terminally ill. The Associated Press withdrew a story Wednesday night that said McAuliffe was accused in court documents of having lied to a federal investigator looking into the benefit scheme; those documents referred to someone by the initials "T.M.," but did not identify McAuliffe as that person.