Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended ABC News reporter Brian Ross after he was suspended over an erroneous report related to President Trump and the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
Grassley said Sunday on Twitter he has a personal relationship with Ross.
“I’m sure many republican will disagree BUT it is difficult for me to see bad in the ‘mistake’ Brian Ross made [about] candidate/ president-electTrump [because] 67-68 Brian was a poli/sci student of mine We had a good relationship& do Now,” his tweet said.
I’m sure many republican will disagree BUT it is difficult for me to see bad in the “mistake” Brian Ross made abt candidate/ president-electTrump bc 67-68 Brian was a poli/sci student of mine We had a good relationship& do Now
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) December 3, 2017
ABC on Saturday suspended Ross after he corrected a report that initially said former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn communicated with Russian government officials at the direction of Trump when he was still a candidate for president.
The report would suggest Trump was dealing to some extent with Russia during the campaign.
But Ross later amended the report to say Trump was already president-elect when the direction to Flynn reportedly took place.
The White House has said Flynn spoke with Russian officials on his own, though Flynn reportedly said he was directed to do so by senior-level Trump transition officials.
