The Associated Press on Monday fired James LaPorta, the journalist who reported that Russian missiles hit Poland, a member of NATO.
The reporter, citing a “US Intelligence source,” last Tuesday claimed two Russian missiles hit a Poland border town with Ukraine.
Far-left reporters shouted “Article 5!” and immediately began cheering for WWIII.
It turned out that Ukraine actually fired the missiles.
Three U.S. officials told the @AP that preliminary assessments indicate the missile that struck Poland had been fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian missile.https://t.co/0M7UuvvjCz
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 16, 2022
AP quickly retracted the story after nearly dragging the US into WWIII.
“The new assessment contradicts information earlier Tuesday from a senior U.S. intelligence official who told the AP that Russian missiles crossed into Poland.” AP said last Wednesday.
The new assessment contradicts information earlier Tuesday from a senior U.S. intelligence official who told the AP that Russian missiles crossed into Poland.https://t.co/0M7UuvMmEz
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 16, 2022
The AP reporter was fired on Wednesday, according to the Daily Beast.
The Associated Press scared much of the world last Tuesday when it alerted readers that “a senior U.S. intelligence official” said “Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland, killing two people.”
That report, which was widely cited across the internet and on cable news, was taken offline the following day and replaced with an editor’s note admitting the single source was wrong and that “subsequent reporting showed that the missiles were Russian-made and most likely fired by Ukraine in defense against a Russian attack.”
On Monday, the AP fired James LaPorta, the investigative reporter responsible for that story, Confider has learned.
The piece, which was originally co-bylined with John Leicester (who is still working at the AP), attributed the information to a single “senior U.S. intelligence official,” despite the AP’s rule that it “routinely seeks and requires more than one source when sourcing is anonymous.”
When reached for comment, an AP spokesperson did not comment on LaPorta’s ouster but instead wrote: “The rigorous editorial standards and practices of The Associated Press are critical to AP’s mission as an independent news organization. To ensure our reporting is accurate, fair and fact-based, we abide by and enforce these standards, including around the use of anonymous sources.”
