AP reported Sherwood spokesman's excuse for Hastert nixing fundraiser appearance; ignored numerous other cancellations in wake of Foley scandal

In an October 10 Associated Press article, Kimberly Hefling reported that House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) canceled an October 18 appearance with Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA) at a fundraising event because, according to Sherwood's spokesman, "Sherwood had another major event the next day." But while Hefling reported that Sherwood's spokesman was asked if the cancellation had anything to do with the Foley scandal, she did not note that Hastert has reportedly cancelled all of his fundraisers through October 19, as Media Matters for America documented. She simply quoted the spokesman as saying that the cancellation of the Sherwood event "has more to do with the large event on the 19th."

From Hefling's October 10 AP article:

House Speaker Dennis Hastert and another Republican leader criticized for his role in the congressional page scandal will not be appearing at fundraisers on behalf of a Pennsylvania congressman who has admitted to an extramarital affair.

[...]

Jake O'Donnell, a spokesman for Sherwood, said Monday that an Oct. 18 event with Hastert was only tentatively scheduled and was canceled mostly because Sherwood had another major event the next day.

[...]

When asked if the page scandal had anything to do with the event with Hastert not taking place, O'Donnell said, "It has more to do with the large event on the 19th."

As Media Matters noted, according to a report by NBC News correspondent Chip Reid on the October 5 edition of MSNBC News Live, Hastert cancelled all fundraising appearances through October 19 due to the events surrounding the Foley scandal. According to Reid, the cancellations came after Hastert had been "bragging" that he was going to appear at fundraisers for more than 30 different Republican candidates in the course of a month. Word of Hastert's cancellations was preceded by reports that Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY) canceled an event at which Hastert was scheduled to appear.

—B.A.