CBS to Bring in Independent Investigator

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The New York Sun

Within the next few days, CBS News expects to name an independent panel of experts to scrutinize its reporting of President Bush’s National Guard service after its defenses for airing the explosive story crumbled.


Eleven days after questions surfaced about Dan Rather’s “60 Minutes” report, the network apologized Monday and said it could not vouch for the authenticity of documents impugning the president’s Guard service.


“I want to say, personally and directly, I’m sorry,” a subdued Mr. Rather said Monday on the “CBS Evening News.”


It was humbling for a news division that once ruled television, for TV’s preeminent newsmagazine, and for Mr.


Rather himself, at 72 years old and struggling against fading ratings and influence. Now CBS opens its doors to an outside panel that will assign blame.


“I think it will be helpful, given the attention this story has received, for cool, collected, independent voices of unchallenged integrity to examine the process,” CBS News President Andrew Heyward said.


The White House said the affair raises questions about the connection between CBS’s source, retired Texas National Guard member Bill Burkett, and the Kerry campaign.


Kerry adviser Joe Lockhart said he had spoken to Mr. Burkett at the request of Mary Mapes, producer for the story. But Lockhart said he did not recall speaking about the National Guard to Mr. Burkett, and ended the call after a few minutes.


Mr. Burkett, who did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press, told USA Today that he had agreed to turn over the documents to CBS if the network would help arrange a conversation with the Kerry campaign. CBS admitted giving Mr. Burkett’s number to the campaign, but said it was not part of any deal.


Mr. Burkett admitted this weekend to CBS that he lied about obtaining the documents from another former National Guard member, the network said. CBS hasn’t been able to definitely tell whether they’re fake. But the network has given up trying to defend them.


CBS said it approached Mr. Burkett initially about the memos purportedly written by Mr. Bush’s late squadron leader, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Killian. Several experts have dismissed the documents as fakes. Mr. Rather said Mr. Burkett was well known in National Guard circles for several years for trying to discredit Mr. Bush’s military record.


Questions about the documents surfaced on the Internet soon after the piece aired. CBS stood by its story until last Wednesday.


White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the White House appreciated CBS’s expression of regret, but there were still serious questions about Mr. Burkett.


“Bill Burkett is a source who has been discredited and so this raises a lot of questions,” Mr. McClellan said. “There were media reports about Mr. Burkett having senior level contacts with the Kerry campaign.”


The Kerry campaign has said it had nothing to do with the story.


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