CNN reporter Dan Merica thought he caught White House counselor Kellyanne Conway spreading fake news about the New York Times before he ultimately recognized his own error Tuesday.
Conway tweeted a link to a Daily Caller story Tuesday morning about how the Times wrote a 1,300-word article on Sen. Robert Menendez's (D., N.J.) corruption trial, and omitted Menendez's party affiliation. Following online backlash, the Times added Menedez's Democratic affiliation with no note to notify readers about the update. Times writer Nick Corasaniti admitted on Twitter that the original publication omitted Menendez's party affiliation, calling it an "oversight."
When Conway tweeted the story, the Daily Caller noted the Times ultimately updated its story.
In 1300-word story, NYT Fails To Mention Federal Criminal Defendant Bob Menendez Is A Democrat. https://t.co/SkpUr5lEh1
— Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) September 5, 2017
Merica did not know the Times story had been updated when he attempted to criticize Conway on Twitter.
Line from the story: "Since his indictment more than two years ago, Mr. Menendez, a Democrat..." https://t.co/pl9WsIWNv3
— Dan Merica (@merica) September 5, 2017
Many were quick to point out to Merica that the Times added "a Democrat" after the story was published. Merica later noted his mistake.
Missed yesterday that it was added after it was initially posted... https://t.co/DdMvsjXh8H https://t.co/TV8Tn3XtPb
— Dan Merica (@merica) September 5, 2017
Fellow CNN reporter David Wright also mocked Conway, but later deleted the tweet and acknowledged his mistake.
Deleting this tweet because the New York Times did, in fact, correct this story to mention Menendez's Dem affiliation, per @PfeifferDC pic.twitter.com/hQELGUmoTL
— David Wright (@DavidWright_7) September 5, 2017
Jake Sherman from Politico and Joan Walsh from The Nation also chided Conway and conservatives for criticizing the Times.
4th paragraph: "Mr. Menendez, a Democrat" https://t.co/4E4nrucucW
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 5, 2017
"Since his indictment more than two years ago, Mr. Menendez, a Democrat.." Fifth sentence, dudes. Try harder.
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) September 5, 2017
Sherman apologized, and said he must have missed the outrage when the article was originally posted.
apologies — i mustve been asleep for the outrage when this posted.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) September 5, 2017
MSNBC segment producer Mary Emily O'Hara also accused Conway of not reading the full Times piece, and in the process, proved she had not read the Daily Caller story Conway shared. If she had, she also would have been informed of the Times' post-publication update.
She didn't. If she had read it, she would have seen where it says "Mr. Menendez, a Democrat" in the fourth paragraph.
— Mary Emily O'Hara (@MaryEmilyOHara) September 5, 2017
After being informed of her error, O'Hara continued to push back on Conway's tweet, saying Conway was "inventing" a crisis.
Kellyanne Conway's tweet was written the day *after* the article was corrected. Inventing a crisis that wasn't. https://t.co/lRucG15zXQ
— Mary Emily O'Hara (@MaryEmilyOHara) September 5, 2017