Global Courant 2023-05-20 20:23:55
Fox news
Fox News host Laura Ingraham gave a “little update” Friday night, admitting the story of homeless vets being driven out by migrants was a hoax, adding that she had “no idea” why a group would make up a story on her network inflamed days of indignation passed.
A week after the New York Post reported the sensational story of 20 “struggling homeless veterans” being smuggled out of hotels in upstate New York to make way for asylum-seeking migrants, the story completely fell apart. In fact, Sharon Toney Finch, the CEO of a veterans’ advocacy organizationhad made up the tall tale and apparently even recruited men of a homeless shelter to pose to the media as the displaced veterinarians.
Of course, through when the fraud came to light, right-wing media had gone wild over the story. Fox News led the way, airing dozens of on-air segments outraged by Democrats putting the needs of “illegals” over the well-being of “people who have served our country and need a little boost.” Ingraham, known for her anti-immigrant rhetorichelped lead the charge.
“We know what the intention was,” angered Ingraham on Tuesday night. “Second class citizens are veterans. Primary, Most Celebrated Citizens Get All Benefits (are) non-citizens, fraudulent asylum seekers to the United States.
On Friday, however, it was time to eat a little crow after the GOP lawmaker who initially supported Toney-Finch’s claims changed course and denounced her, claiming he was “devastated and disheartened” when he discovered that she had made the whole thing up. The New York State Attorney General is now investigating whether Toney-Finch and additional questions swirl around other claims she has made about her military service.
After Fox News released an on-air report with a “quick update” that they were “now looking” at reports that Toney-Finch had “misled lawmakers and media outlets,” Ingraham issued her own mild correction during her primetime program.
“Okay, before we go, a little update on a story we brought you this week about homeless vets being evicted from hotels so illegal immigrants could move in,” she said just before going into a commercial break.
Story continues
“Turns out the group behind the claim made it up,” added Ingraham. “We have no idea why anyone would do such a thing, but we’ll bring you all the updates as they come.”
Considering the amount of attention Toney-Finch’s organization got from conservative media outlets more than willing to credulously amplify the scandalous story, it’s really a mystery why anyone would “do such a thing”.
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