Holmes' Mother: ABC Mischaracterized Her Statement
Dylan Byers blogs at Politico:
Arlene Holmes, the mother of Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes, has suggested that ABC News mischaracterized her when it reported that her initial statement to the reporter, "you have the right person," was a reference to her son."This statement is to clarify a statement made by ABC media. I was awakened by a call from a reporter by ABC on July 20 about 5:45 in the morning. I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time," Holmes said in a statement this afternoon, read to the national press by attorney Lisa Damiani. "He asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes who lives in Aurora, Colorado. I answered yes, you have the right person. I was referring to myself."
"I asked him to tell me why he was calling and he told me about a shooting in Aurora," she continues. "He asked for a comment. I told him I could not comment because I did not know if the person he was talking about was my son, and I would need to find out."
In the first paragraph of its initial report on Friday, ABC News reported that it had identified the correct James Holmes because his mother "told ABC News her son was likely the alleged culprit, saying, 'You have the right person.'"
If Arlene Holmes' latest statement is true, it means that she did not tell ABC News her son was likely the alleged culprit, calling into question the reporting of a network that has already been marred by one inaccuracy.
ABC News is standing by its reporting. More about that at the above link. Even more here.
They're trying to bare-face their way out of the criminally irresponsible reporting they have done on this, because they're probably facing at least one major libel lawsuit. Their reporter Brian Ross found a "James Holmes" who was associated with the Colorado Tea Party, and reported, with no evidence whatsoever, that that James Holmes was the shooter. A responsible news agency would have already fired him, but ABC is doing the doublethink bit of standing by Ross' reporting even while grudgingly acknowledging that they named the wrong person.
Cousin Dave at July 23, 2012 6:50 PM
The problem is the lamestream media tries to outpace each other and the LEO in telling the story. But once they get caught being irresponsible -- they try every weasel move to get out of it.
What needs to happen is that they need to loosen up the libel/slander laws to let the public fuck them over a few times.
A few million dollars and the annual report will straighten them out quickly.
Look at the Zimmerman case as well.
Jim P. at July 23, 2012 7:32 PM
Arlene Holmes' explanation seems much more believable than ABC's interpretation of her statement.
At the very least, ABC should hardly expect lucidity when they call someone at 5:45 in the morning.
Patrick at July 24, 2012 1:48 AM
Two points:
1. ABC had NO business calling a citizen at 5:45AM, who would likely still be asleep, FOR ANY REASON! Unless, of course, they were hoping to get a juicy comment before she woke up fully. Would they pull a sneaky trick like that? Hell yes!
2. General lesson - THINK, do not say anything to a media person that can be misinterpreted or taken out of context. She should have simply said "Yes" without the elaboration. Better yet, simply answer "No Comment" and hang up. ABC could still probably fudge that around, but they'd have to work at it.
davnel at July 24, 2012 8:52 AM
I wonder if they will just release the tape... or if they will edit the tape and then release it...
It's been a long time since I beleived a thing they say. Trust but verify.
SwissArmyD at July 24, 2012 9:41 AM
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