Conservative commentators hammered ABC News over its faulty report Friday claiming then-candidate Donald Trump had directed Michael Flynn to contact Russian officials during the 2016 campaign.
The initial report, which aired during ABC News' “Special Report” around 11 a.m. on Friday, cited a source claiming that a close associate of Flynn was prepared to testify that Trump "directed him to make contact with the Russians" during the course of the 2016 presidential race.
Around 6:30 p.m. ABC News’ Brian Ross issued an on-air “clarification” that their source had explained that it was only after the election that “President-elect Trump asked [Flynn] to contact Russia on issues including working together to fight ISIS.”
ABC News added that the extent of campaign communications between Trump and Flynn on the matter, according to the source, was limited to “Trump asking him during the campaign to find ways to repair relations with Russia and other world hot spots.”
ABC News later deleted a clarification posted on Twitter, which drew intense criticism online, and upgraded it to a correction. A network source said the matter would be addressed on-air Saturday.
The original reporting, which proved to be inaccurate, appeared to link Flynn’s electoral contacts with Russian officials directly to the president, a connection he has denied the existence of.