Former congresswoman Donna Edwards (D., Md.) attacked conservative media for supposedly misleading the public on MSNBC Tuesday, and then immediately shared a viral fake news story.
Host Stephanie Ruhle cued a clip of a Donald Trump supporter after a town hall held by Republican-turned-independent congressman Justin Amash. "I was surprised to hear there was anything negative in the Mueller Report at all about President Trump," the woman said. "I hadn't heard that before, and I mainly listen to conservative news."
"It's not surprising to me that given that woman and others' limited knowledge coming from conservative media, she comes up with that conclusion," Edwards responded, "And it's notable, I think, that tomorrow Fox News, for example, is not airing the Mueller testimony at all."
"Actually, I don't believe that's true. I think they are going to air it," Ruhle cut in.
"Oh, okay. I misunderstood that," Edwards responded.
Edwards fell for a viral rumor started by MSNBC contributor Joyce Vance, who tweeted Sunday "Fox isn't showing Mueller's testimony Wednesday. Trump is afraid of what will happen if his base gets to hear Mueller's testimony for themselves." After being corrected by others, Vance deleted her original tweet and insisted it was meant "ironically."
I've deleted an earlier tweet I intended ironically, but that some took as factual regarding Fox news coverage of Mueller's testimony. My apologies to anyone I confused. I don’t like to delete tweets but that seems a better course than unintentionally misinforming people.
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) July 21, 2019
Edwards's error comes a day after frequent MSNBC guest Rick Wilson also falsely claimed on air that Fox News wasn't airing the Mueller's congressional testimony. Wilson later issued a correction on Twitter, but according to Mediaite, MSNBC refused Fox News's demand that they issue an on-air correction as well.