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January 7, 2010
The journalism of verification: FCR's statement that it's not a target in Yonkers goes mostly unquestioned, though the feds won't confirm it
Atlantic Yards Report
So, after the stunning news yesterday that Forest City Ratner was the unnamed, unindicted "Developer No. 2" cited in a Yonkers corruption scandal, the developer issued a statement saying it had cooperated fully with federal prosecutors and "has been advised by the U.S. Attorney's Office that neither the company nor any of its employees is a target of the investigation."
Does that mean they're cleared? Not exactly.
The U.S. Attorney's office would not comment when I asked them to confirm the statement. LoHud.com reported that U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara "declined to comment on whether Forest City Ratner had broken the law by hiring Jereis or whether they were a target of the continuing investigation."
And, as I wrote, "not a target" could mean they're not a target now but could be in the future.
Still, other than AYR and the local LoHud.com (home of the Journal-News), the press did not try to verify Forest City Ratner's claim. The New York Times dutifully printed FCR's statement, without adding, as the newspaper did in a 5/5/08 article on the investigation, that Forest City Ratner "partnered with The New York Times to build its new headquarters."
The Daily News and the Observer also quoted the FCR statement without question. (I couldn't find coverage in the Post.)
Posted by lumi at January 7, 2010 7:37 AM