ABC News apologizes for false graphic saying Manafort pleaded guilty to manslaughter

ABC News issued an apology on Wednesday after erroneously posting a graphic during a special report stating that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had pleaded “guilty to 5 charges of manslaughter.”

“We regret and apologize for the false lower third graphic that aired during our special report. We are investigating how incorrect information was in our system and how and why it was allowed to air,” ABC News said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

{mosads}

“We apologize to our viewers and to Mr. Manafort. There simply is no excuse for this sort of mistake.”

The graphic, known as a chyron that serves as a headline for a story on the screen, was shown during a special report covering President Trump’s decision to sign an executive order aimed at ending his administration’s controversial practice of separating children from their parents who have crossed the U.S. southern border illegally. 

The error was first flagged by media reporter Alex Griswold of the Washington Free Beacon. 

“ABC News’ banner briefly reported this afternoon that Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to killing five people. (He has not),” Griswold wrote.

ABC News’ banner briefly reported this afternoon that Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to killing five people. (He has not) pic.twitter.com/ZnL94QJKOh

— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) June 20, 2018