[Rhodes22-list] Political - More Lies

[Brad Haslett]

The press printed it so it must be true, right?  Obama thinks so, he
used it in the debate.  Surely he wouldn't lie, would he?

Brad

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October 15
Secret Service says "Kill him" allegation unfounded
By Andrew M. Seder aseder at timesleader.com
Staff Writer


SCRANTON – The agent in charge of the Secret Service field office in
Scranton said allegations that someone yelled "kill him" when
presidential hopeful Barack Obama's name was mentioned during
Tuesday's Sarah Palin rally are unfounded.



The Scranton Times-Tribune first reported the alleged incident on its
Web site Tuesday and then again in its print edition Wednesday. The
first story, written by reporter David Singleton, appeared with
allegations that while congressional candidate Chris Hackett was
addressing the crowd and mentioned Oabama's name a man in the audience
shouted "kill him."

News organizations including ABC, The Associated Press, The Washington
Monthly and MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann reported the claim,
with most attributing the allegations to the Times-Tribune story.

Agent Bill Slavoski said he was in the audience, along with an
undisclosed number of additional secret service agents and other law
enforcement officers and not one heard the comment.

"I was baffled," he said after reading the report in Wednesday's Times-Tribune.

He said the agency conducted an investigation Wednesday, after seeing
the story, and could not find one person to corroborate the allegation
other than Singleton.

Slavoski said more than 20 non-security agents were interviewed
Wednesday, from news media to ordinary citizens in attendance at the
rally for the Republican vice presidential candidate held at the
Riverfront Sports Complex. He said Singleton was the only one to say
he heard someone yell "kill him."

"We have yet to find someone to back up the story," Slavoski said. "We
had people all over and we have yet to find anyone who said they heard
it."

Hackett said he did not hear the remark.

Slavoski said Singleton was interviewed Wednesday and stood by his
story but couldn't give a description of the man because he didn't see
him he only heard him.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, Singleton referred questions to
Times-Tribune Metro Editor Jeff Sonderman. Sonderman said, "We stand
by the story. The facts reported are true and that's really all there
is."

Slavoski said the agents take such threats or comments seriously and
immediately opened an investigation but after due diligence "as far as
we're concerned it's closed unless someone comes forward." He urged
anyone with knowledge of the alleged incident to call him at 346-5781.
"We'll run at all leads," he said.