In a surprising turn of events, Miguel Almaguer, the NBC News reporter who was notably absent from the network for several weeks following the retraction of his controversial report on Paul Pelosi in 2022, has officially parted ways with the network.
Almaguer's report, which aired on "Today" on November 4, 2022, suggested that Pelosi, the spouse of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, may not have been in immediate danger when police arrived at his San Francisco residence on the night of his assault. The report was retracted by NBC News later that day as it began to gain traction online, with the network stating that it did not meet their journalistic standards.
Following the retraction, Almaguer, a regular contributor to "Today" and "NBC Nightly News," was conspicuously absent from the network until his unannounced return on December 12, 2022. While it was widely speculated that Almaguer was suspended, NBC News did not confirm this on record, and Almaguer himself did not respond to multiple requests for comment during his absence. The network's lack of transparency regarding the situation left media insiders puzzled and sparked outrage among some liberal outlets, who argued that the report had given credence to far-right conspiracy theories about the attack.
Fast forward thirteen months, Almaguer took to social media to announce his departure from NBC News, although the circumstances surrounding his exit remain unclear. "Seen a lot. Done a lot. Learned a lot. Thankful for my nearly 2 decade long run at NBC News. But more than anything grateful for those in the trenches with me. With them it was more an adventure than work. Change is hard and goodbyes aren't easy. But turning the page is exciting. In news ... I love a great last line. This one is still being written," Almaguer shared on Instagram.
In a memo to NBC staffers about his departure, which was obtained by Fox News Digital, Almaguer expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work at NBC News for the past 18 years. "It's been a privilege to tell some of the world's most important stories. I am especially thankful and indebted to each one of you my colleagues, true professionals who worked so tirelessly by my side in the trenches. NBC News is home to some of the very best in the business who I will deeply miss. Being at NBC News has granted me a front-row seat to history, and it has been a profound honor," Almaguer wrote.
NBC News executives praised Almaguer, stating that he "has been a valued member of our newsgathering team, traveling around the country and the globe to cover many of the biggest stories." The network did not immediately respond when asked if Almaguer's departure was his own decision. Almaguer himself declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital.
Despite the controversy surrounding its retraction, Almaguer's report on Pelosi was accurate in several respects. It correctly stated that the police seemed unaware that they were at the Pelosi residence upon arrival and that Paul Pelosi did not immediately declare an emergency when the police arrived. Pelosi had already dialed 911 after DePape forced entry into his home while he was asleep.
However, bodycam footage appeared to contradict Almaguer's claim that Pelosi "began walking several feet back into the foyer toward the assailant and away from police" when the door opened. In reality, Pelosi seemed to be holding onto the hammer wielded by DePape. Seconds after the police arrived, DePape wrested the hammer from Pelosi's grip and struck him with it, fracturing his skull. The police then stormed in, tackled, and arrested DePape. DePape was later convicted of the assault in November.
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