According to a Media Matters for America search of the Nexis and Factiva databases, CBS' Evening News with Katie Couric has yet to report on the disclosure that Sen. David Vitter's (R-LA) phone number was among the phone records of alleged "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey. As Media Matters for America has previously noted, Palfrey was indicted on racketeering charges stemming from allegations that she ran a prostitution ring, and has reportedly asked Vitter to be a witness for her defense. On July 16, the Evening News missed another opportunity when Vitter gave a public apology -- the first appearance by Vitter since his contacts with Palfrey were made public. By contrast, the July 16 editions of NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams and ABC's World News with Charles Gibson both mentioned Vitter's press conference, and the Nightly News made Vitter its second story of the broadcast. During his Nightly News report, NBC News congressional correspondent Chip Reid reported that Vitter “is one of the most conservative members of the Senate, frequently invoking family values in his campaigns.”

As Media Matters noted, neither the CBS Evening News nor the NBC Nightly News reported on Vitter's connection to Palfrey on July 10 -- the night after the story broke. Reid's July 16 report was the first mention of Vitter's connection to Palfrey on NBC's Nightly News. During his report on the July 10 edition of World News, ABC News senior political correspondent Jake Tapper reported that Vitter “is a self-proclaimed defender of family values,” and was a “conservative rising star, and led a charge against same-sex marriage.” Tapper reported that Vitter recently sent a “letter to senators, urging them to support abstinence education, to teach teenagers, quote, 'that saving sex until marriage and remaining faithful afterwards is the best choice for health and happiness.' ” Tapper further noted that presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) recently tapped Vitter “to be his campaign's regional Southern chairman.”

From the July 16 edition of NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams:

WILLIAMS: Now we move to Louisiana, where Republican Senator David Vitter made his first public appearance tonight in a week. He went underground after being caught up in what has become known as the “D.C. Madam” sex scandal. Vitter is one of the Senate's most conservative members. He has long campaigned for legislation as part of his platform of strict family values, defense of marriage. But last week he admitted in a statement that he had made some serious mistakes. Tonight the senator and his wife spoke for the first time since. The story from NBC's Chip Reid.

REID: Republican Louisiana Senator David Vitter, accompanied by his wife, Wendy, made his first public appearance today since admitting one week ago that he'd been linked to an alleged prostitution ring.

DAVID VITTER [video clip]: I want to again offer my deep, sincere apologies to all those I have let down and disappointed with these actions from my past. I am completely responsible, and I'm so very, very sorry.

WENDY VITTER [video clip]: When David and I dealt with this privately years ago, I forgave David. I made the decision to love him and to recommit to our marriage. You know, to forgive is not always the easy choice, but it was and is the right choice for me.

REID: Wendy Vitter also had a message as a mother:

WENDY VITTER [video clip]: Our marriage is stronger every day. But for our children--and now I'm going to speak to you as a mother, and I hope you will understand -- it's been terribly hard to have the media parked on our front lawn and following us every day. And yesterday, the media was camped at our church.

REID: Vitter's phone number was found in the records of Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the so-called “D.C. Madam,” who operated an escort service she says was legitimate, but prosecutors say was a prostitution operation catering to prominent Washingtonians, charging clients as much as $300 a visit.

DAVID VITTER [video clip]: Wendy and I dealt with this personally several years ago. I confronted it in confession and marriage counseling. I believe I received forgiveness from God. I know I did from Wendy.

REID: Vitter, 46, a father of four, is one of the most conservative members of the Senate, frequently invoking family values in his campaigns.

And with a good deal of sadness in her voice, Wendy Vitter said in most families this would've been handled completely privately. But, she lamented, in the politics of today, virtually nothing is private. Brian.

From the July 16 edition of ABC's World News with Charles Gibson:

DAVID MUIR (guest anchor): We do have one other political note this evening. In Louisiana late today, Republican Senator David Vitter, with his wife at his side, made his first public appearance since being linked to the “D.C. Madam” scandal. Vitter, whose phone number showed up in an escort service's records, says he is heading back to work on Capitol Hill, and he did not answer any of the reporters' questions.