Glenn Kessler, a former fact-checker for The Washington Post, has recently expressed regret over a headline he published in May 2020 that cast doubt on the theory suggesting COVID-19 originated from a laboratory in China.
Kessler admitted he was "completely wrong" and expressed "infinite regret" for the headline, which read, "Was the New Coronavirus Accidentally Released From a Wuhan Lab? It's Doubtful." In a candid interview with journalist Ira Stoll, Kessler acknowledged his error, stating, "I screwed up," and admitted to adding the phrase "It's Doubtful" to the original headline.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, The Washington Post was among the initial mainstream media outlets to dismiss the lab leak theory, labeling it a "coronavirus conspiracy theory that was already debunked" even before Kessler's fact-check.
However, in 2023, both the FBI and the Department of Energy released assessments suggesting that a lab leak was the "most likely" origin of the virus, leading many left-leaning media organizations to reconsider the plausibility of the theory.
Kessler, who recently departed from The Washington Post after a 14-year tenure running its Fact Checker column, defended his overall record, noting that out of the "3,000 fact checks" he authored or edited, only "a dozen bad apples" might exist.
Nonetheless, Kessler has faced criticism for perceived partisan bias, particularly in his "Pinocchio" rating system. While intended as a neutral measure of truth, the system frequently targeted Republican figures while appearing to minimize or justify inaccurate claims by Democrats.
For instance, in June of last year, Kessler dismissed videos depicting then-President Joe Biden as confused, labeling them "misleading" and accusing them of using "deceptive framing." However, some of Biden's own advisers have since acknowledged that he was indeed confused during his presidency.
Former Chief of Staff Ron Klain revealed to author Chris Whipple that Biden was "fatigued, befuddled, and disengaged" during debate preparation sessions.
During President Donald Trump's administration, Kessler also played a role in promoting the "Russiagate" narrative, which falsely accused Trump of colluding with Russia. This incident, along with others, has raised questions about the impartiality of fact-checking in media, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in journalism.
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