June 11, 2015

You’d think that one abject apology was enough.

But national radio host Diane Rehm apologized Thursday for the second straight day for relying on an erroneous Facebook posting to wrongly suggest that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) has dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship.

Rehm had asked him about that, as if it were a fact, during a Wednesday interview. He quickly corrected her and his spokesman later said there were no hard feelings.

So Rehm, whose WAMU-FM Washington, D.C. show is distributed by NPR, apologized to listeners Wednesday. And, then, again, on Thursday morning:

“I want to make a correction, ” she said after the first hour of Thursday’s two-hour show came to an end.

“On yesterday’s show I raised the issue of dual citizenship with presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. This is an issue that has come up over the years in American politics.”

“One of our listeners suggested by Facebook that I ask Senator Sanders about Internet speculation that he has dual citizenship with Israel. But instead of asking it as a question I stated it as fact and that was wrong. He does not have dual citizenship.”

“Senator Sanders immediately corrected me. I should have explained to him and to you why I thought this was a relevant question and something he might like to address. I do apologize to Senator Sanders and to you for having made an erroneous statement. ”

“However I am glad to play a role in putting this rumor to rest. I want to thank you all for listening. I am Diane Rehm.”

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New York City native, graduate of Collegiate School, Amherst College and Roosevelt University. Married to Cornelia Grumman, dad of Blair and Eliot. National columnist, U.S.…
James Warren

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