Conservative outlets are eager to feed Trump’s conspiracy-minded fanbase — and will seize on the tiniest scrap of information to support their efforts. The Daily Mail “reported” Thursday that Comey was seen with his wife entering the New York Times’ building. Suspiciously, the two were wearing sunglasses!
This prompted several pro-Trump outlets to speculate that Comey was doing an interview with the Times and possibly sharing more information that would hurt the President.
Fox News picked up the Daily Mail’s story about Comey’s “sneaky visit,” fueling conspiracy theories about Comey, Mueller, and the media all supposedly working together against Trump. It dovetailed nicely with an interview that aired later on Fox & Friends where he criticized Comey, Mueller and the investigation.
James Comey spotted walking into The New York Times building | @FoxFriendsFirst pic.twitter.com/fzASKAODwp
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 23, 2017
All of this speculation was wrong. Comey, a foster parent, was attending an event at a law firm in the building in support of a charity that works to find safe homes for abused children.
The Times’ Maggie Haberman had already debunked Comey’s “sneaky visit” Thursday evening. He was in the Times’ building, but not the Times’ office.
Comey didn't visit NYT newsroom. A person close to him said he and wife went to ceremony for CASA at Covington & Burling in NYT building.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2017
Pic from Covington & Burling event, from person close to Comey pic.twitter.com/WrnieqotR2
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2017
Another photo pic.twitter.com/5kLdEfOPtJ
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2017
Comey and his wife have been foster parents (context)
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 23, 2017
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. It’s a non-profit that “supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive.”
Eventually, the Fox News acknowledged the truth but insisted that the New York Times had now “set the record straight.”
NYT sets the record straight, saying Comey didn't visit their offices yesterday but instead was in the building for a charity event pic.twitter.com/aQvVu6k1GK
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) June 23, 2017
They did not admit that Haberman’s tweets debunking the Daily Mail story were published many hours before their own “reporting” about his “sneaky visit” aired Friday morning.