Eric Trump criticized ABC News over their report on Pentagon contracts involving investments linked to his family. He also backed a call for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the report.
Eric Trump backs FCC investigation into ABC News over report on Pentagon contracts
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the ABC News report published last week. Eric Trump backed the senator’s request for investigation.
Eric thanked the Senator and fired back at the Disney-owned network. He wrote, “Thank you @berniemoreno — can’t wait to participate!” He added, “You can’t publish a bulls–t hit-piece, let it spread and go viral, then delete it 24 hours later, under the cover of darkness with no explanation or apology. Who approved it? Has the author been fired? @ABC owes us answers.”
ABC News published a report with the headline “Trump sons’ investments have won billions in Pentagon contracts since his election.” The report had errors in its description of certain investments and their timelines. Soon after the report, the Senator called for an FCC investigation. However, the network deleted the initial report and later published it with a correction.
In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Senator Moreno demanded accountability from the network. He questioned whether ABC News violated its obligation as a broadcaster. Moreno wrote, “Thus, I urge the Commission to open a formal investigation into ABC News’s political hit job. We must know who signed off on the publication of this false story, who may have asked to profit from the attack, and whether ABC News’s conduct violated its obligations as a licensee.”
The network originally posted a report on investments tied to Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., claiming that Donald Trump’s sons secured billions in government contracts and their dealings with defense contractor Anduril Industries. (via New York Post)
In the original report, the network incorrectly attributed a $2.5 billion investment in Anduril Industries to 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner. The amount represented Anduril’s fundraising, while 1789 Capital’s investment was $50 million.
ABC News published a revised version, with the headline, “New shipyard announced amid earlier Democratic concerns about potential conflicts of interest.” Eric Trump backed an FCC investigation; the network has published a revised report acknowledging the errors.
