George Stephanopoulos tells viewers he made a mistake
Published 1:00 pm Friday, May 15, 2015
- FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2014 file photo, moderator George Stephanopoulos, left, and North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Thom Tillis speak prior to a live televised debate between Tillis and Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C. at UNC-TV studios in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Stephanopoulos will not moderate a Republican presidential debate next winter, part of the fallout from reports that the network's top political anchor contributed $75,000 over a three-year period to the Clinton Foundation. The co-host of "Good Morning America" and host of the Sunday morning public affairs program "This Week" earlier had apologized for not disclosing his contributions to his employer and viewers. Stephanopoulos voluntarily stepped away from the Feb. 6 debate, said ABC News spokeswoman Heather Riley on Thursday, May 14. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — George Stephanopoulos is apologizing to “Good Morning America” viewers for donating $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation, saying that was a mistake.
The ABC News anchor said on the air Friday that he should have gone the extra mile to avoid the appearance of a conflict. He gave the money to the foundation started by his one-time boss, former President Bill Clinton, to help on global AIDS prevention and deforestation. Stephanopoulos worked on Clinton’s 1992 campaign and in the White House.
Stephanopoulos rose to the top ranks at ABC over 18 years and worked to establish himself as an independent journalist despite his political background, only to see his actions bring that issue back to the fore just as Hillary Rodham Clinton is launching her presidential campaign.
