ABC Reports GOP Congressman's Indictment, But Initially Ignored Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s Charges Last Year
Both the ABC World News and the NBC Nightly News
reported GOP Congressman Michael Grimm's federal charges of tax evasion
on Monday evening, but when former Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson,
Jr. was hit with campaign finance charges back in 2013, ABC ignored the
story that evening and NBC failed to label him a Democrat.
On Monday's Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams reported "big trouble tonight" for Grimm, highlighting his party affiliation: "The Republican who happens to be a former FBI agent." World News
anchor Diane Sawyer stated that Grimm "was once called a rising star in
the Republican party, but then he threatened a reporter on live TV and
tonight battles a tough new charge." Both networks held the Democrat
Jackson, Jr. to a different standard, though.
When NBC's Lester Holt revealed Jackson, Jr.'s charges on the February 15, 2013 Nightly News,
he omitted his party affiliation: "Federal prosecutors today filed
campaign finance charges against former Chicago Congressman Jesse
Jackson, Jr. and his wife Sandy."
ABC, meanwhile, completely ignored Jackson, Jr.'s charges on the day he
was charged. Five days later, ABC's Pierre Thomas alluded to his party
when reporting that Jackson, Jr. spoke at the Democratic National
Convention: "The son of an iconic civil rights leader, and one-time
presidential candidate, had been a rising star, even speaking at the
2008 Democratic National Convention."
NBC did label Jackson, Jr. a Democrat five days later. However, the networks have
employed a clear double standard in the past when reporting Republican
and Democratic scandals.
For instance, the MRC's Geoff Dickens noted a particular double standard from NBC's Brian Williams in January of this year:
"On the January 27 Nightly News, Williams reported that 'Florida Republican Congressman Trey Radel has resigned effective tonight. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession.' In the very next news brief Williams announced: 'A name from New Orleans’s recent past went on trial there today. Ray Nagin, mayor of the city during Katrina, in court on bribery charges.' Williams never noted Nagin was a Democrat."
Below are transcripts of the April 28 segments:
ABC's World News:
DIANE SAWYER: And now to the U.S. congressman making headlines. Today, New York's Michael Grimm surrendered to the FBI to face charges of tax evasion. He was once called a rising star in the Republican party, but then he threatened a reporter on live TV and tonight battles a tough new charge. Here's ABC's Jeff Zeleny.
(Video Clip)
JEFF ZELENY: Michael Grimm came to Washington on the Tea Party wave of 2010, vowing to restore order to the capitol. But he's probably best known for this moment. Losing his cool when a reporter asked about a federal investigation closing in.
Rep. MICHAEL GRIMM (R-N.Y.): Let me be clear to you. You ever do that to me again, I'll throw you off this f—ing balcony.
REPORTER: Why? I just want to ask you.
ZELENY: He stormed off without carrying through on his threat. But today, he was indicted on federal fraud charges. He is accused of underreporting $1 million in profits at a restaurant he once owned. Prosecutors say he paid some employees in cash to avoid taxes.
GRIMM: This political witch hunt was designed to do a couple of things, but first and foremost, assasinate my character and remove me from office.
ZELENY: As Congressman Grimm vows to fight the charges and not resign, another congressman caught up in controversy is throwing in the towel. Congressman Vance McCallister was seen in this surveillance video, locked in a passionate kiss with a woman on his staff. Tonight, McCallister says he won't run for reelection this year.
Rep. VANCE MCCALLISTER (R-La.): My decision not to run for re-election basically is this lady right here and my family. I want to spend more time with them.
ZELENY:: Two ways to take care of political business in Washington.
— Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center. Follow Matt Hadro on Twitter.