ABC spokeswoman in Stephanopoulos flap worked in Clinton White House

The ABC News spokeswoman who slow-walked The Washington Free Beacon’s request for comment on George Stephanopoulos’ undisclosed donations to the Clinton Foundation also worked in the Clinton administration.

Heather Riley -- spokeswoman for ABC News programs “Good Morning America” and “This Week” -- worked in the White House press office from 1997 to 2000, according to her LinkedIn profile, and is a member of the Facebook group “(Bill) Clinton Administration Alumni.”

The Free Beacon, a conservative-leaning publication, contacted ABC News on the afternoon of May 13 to request comment on George Stephanopoulos’s previously undisclosed donations to the Clinton Foundation.

“I was just forwarded your email about George. I’m going to send you something,” Riley emailed later that night, according to The Free Beacon. “Want to make sure you get it in time.”

Riley later told the Free Beacon that she would deliver a statement by 7 a.m. the next morning. However, the statement did not arrive until 9:40 a.m., about 15 minutes after POLITICO published its “scoop” about the donations.

White House records show that Riley’s duties included serving as a press contact for then-first lady Hillary Clinton.

Via: Fox News

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[VIDEO] This Hillary Scandal Doesn't Look Like It's Fading Away, Either: Stephanopoulos-Clinton 'PayPal' Signs Pop Up Outside GMA Studios

ABC may not discipline George Stephanopoulos for not disclosing $75,000 to The Clinton Foundation prior to his interview with “ClintonCash” author Peter Schweizer, but at least one artist in New York City isn’t as forgiving.

“PayPal” signs adorned with the “Good Morning America” journalist standing next to Hillary Clinton are popping up all around the network’s studio.

The signs were first shared via Twitter by The Weekly Standard’s Mark Hemingway and Twitchy. A collection of the photos was also shared by the Washington Free Beacon on Thursday.

The Washington Free Beacon uncovered Stephanopoulos‘ undisclosed donations to The Clinton Foundation May 14. When an editor asked ABC News for comment, a producer for the network’s chief anchor went to Politico instead. Mr. Stephanopoulos apologized for not being open with viewers in a statement.

“I made charitable donations to the foundation in support of the work they’re doing on global AIDS prevention and deforestation, causes I care about deeply. I thought that my contributions were a matter of public record. However, in hindsight, I should have taken the extra step of personally disclosing my donations to my employer and to the viewers on air during the recent news stories about the foundation. I apologize,” he said.

Via: Washington Times

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Host Amy Robach diagnosed with breast cancer after 'Good Morning America' on-air mammogram

ABC News correspondent Amy Robach says she has breast cancer, a month after she was given a mammogram on the air for a "Good Morning America" story.

"Honestly, I was a little reluctant at first," Robach admitted on "GMA" Monday morning. "I'm 40, I'm the age and I've been putting it off."

Robach got the screening as part of the show's October Pink initiative, aimed at encouraging viewers to get checked, according toPeople.

She said she was shocked by the news, as she has no family history of the disease. A doctor has since told her that the mammogram saved her life, and she'll have both breasts surgically removed Thursday, she announced. 

"It's still hard for me to say the words out loud: 'I have breast cancer,'" Robach said. 

Robach was a frequent fill-in on ABC's morning show while Robin Roberts was fighting a serious blood and bone marrow disease.

Roberts held Robach's hand as her "GMA" colleagues wished her well. 

"You're going to beat this," they told her. 

Via: Fox News

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ABC Wakes Up to 'Massive Technical Glitches' on ObamaCare Website: 'It's a Bust'

The journalists at Good Morning America on Monday woke up to the "massive technical glitches" "plaguing millions" of Americans trying to use the ObamaCare website. The morning show, which has largely minimized the troubled debut of HealthCare.gov, featured reporter Rebecca Jarvis to lament, "It was supposed to be an easy way for Americans to sign up for health care online. But this morning, the Department of Health and Human Services, which spent $500 million to build the site, is admitting it's a bust."

Jarvis attempted to navigate the web page, but offered this perplexed assessment: "But even when we tried to access the site,  we encountered this error, a registration page filled with question marks and incoherent data." [See video below. MP3 audio here.] Although the GMA journalists highlighted the problems, they also buried their impact. It wasn't until the very end of the segment that co-host George Stephanopoulos noted that the administration is "racing the clock." Jarvis agreed, pointing out, "They have to get people signed up for health insurance by January 1st, before the fines start kicking in."

Isn't the fact that millions are unable to sign up for health care, but will still be fined, the most important point?

Way back on October 1, World News previewed the new website. Reporter Paula Faris featured Max Dinette, a man trying to sign up. She explained, "He was excited to sign up today but couldn't get online because the website kept crashing, the same for many others inundating the government's health care website."

On the October 2 GMA, Josh Elliott noted that "Americans coast-to-coast are voicing frustration."

After that, however, ABC mostly downplayed problems with the website.

This week, the networks have had the story forced upon them. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is facing calls to testify about the problems. The House is investigating. 

On CBS This Morning, correspondent John Dickerson offered much tougher language than what ABC has managed. He insisted that the White House faces a "credibility death spiral" over the "total fiasco" of HealthCare.gov.

Via: Newsbusters
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