NBC News Issues Major Correction To Cohen Wiretap Story, Says Feds Are Only Monitoring Calls

NBC News Issues Major Correction To Cohen Wiretap Story, Says Feds Are Only Monitoring Calls

On top of all of the Giuliani-related news that had blown up the news cycle Wednesday, another bombshell was dropped. NBC News reported that federal investigators had wiretapped the phone lines of Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen and the wiretap was set up weeks ahead of the FBI raid of Cohen’s office and home. It was also reported that at least one call that was tapped involved a White House phone line.

Welp, it looks like NBC News got a bit ahead of itself with this story.

Hours after that blockbuster hit, MSNBC’s Chuck Todd brought on NBC News reporter Tom Winter to explain a major correction to the story. See, the phone lines hadn’t been tapped but were instead monitored.

Winter then stated the following:

“Based on information from two independent sources who have a long-term track record of credibility in providing accurate information to this news organization they today — earlier today based on that information we reported there was a wiretap on Michael Cohen’s phone meaning they were able to listen in to conversations from phone lines associated with Michael Cohen to any other person that he might have talked to. In part of that reporting, we said one of those phone calls was between a phone line associated with Michael Cohen and the white house. Now, three senior US officials are telling us that this is a — it was not a wiretap.”

So FBI agents were not able to listen to calls in real-time or record the conversations. Essentially, the agents are collecting metadata and trying to see who Cohen is talking to but don’t know what he’s saying in those calls.

Anyway, this is a big WHOOPSIE by NBC News.

Watch the clip above, via MSNBC.

Justin Baragona

Justin Baragona is the founder/publisher of Contemptor and a contributor to The Daily Beast. He was previously the Cable News Correspondent for Mediaite and prior to starting Contemptor, he worked on the editorial staff of PoliticusUSA. During that time, he had his work quoted by USA Today and BBC News, among others. Justin began his published career as a political writer for 411Mania. He resides in St. Louis, MO with his wife and pets.

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