AP Fires Third Staffer Over False Story

Norman Gomlak, an editor in The Associated Press's Atlanta bureau, was among those fired in the wake of an erroneous report about Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, POLITICO has learned.

Gomlak was involved in editing Bob Lewis's report on McAuliffe on the night of Oct. 9 along with Lewis's editor, Dena Potter. Lewis, Potter and Gomlak were fired on Monday. All three have not responded to requests for comment; an auto-reply email stated that Gomlak was "currently out of the office."

In the Oct. 9 report, the AP alleged that McAuliffe lied to a federal official investigating a death benefits scam. The AP retracted the story less than two hours after it went up, and Lewis immediately took responsibility for the mistake.

As POLITICO reported Monday, the news of Lewis's firing sent shockwaves throughout Virginia political circles and beyond while many of Lewis's current and former colleagues on the Richmond scene complained of what they saw as an overreaction by the AP.

Equally shocking to Lewis's colleagues has been the AP's reluctance to comment on the matter. Far from issuing a long mea culpa or even a curt explanation, the AP's response at every turn has been: "The Associated Press does not comment on personnel matters" — a nonresponse that has left those following the story shaking their heads.

Menawhile, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he was "disappointed" by The Associated Press's decision to fire Bob Lewis.