ASHAMED: ABC Still Hiding Smollett Hoax Trial After Lavishing Coverage

[See NewsBusters for more.] It seems as though ABC News journalists and executives are still capable of feeling shame. How else to explain the network’s attempt to make everyone forget their initial (and very excited) coverage of Jussie Smollett's claims that a MAGA-loving mob assaulted him on a frigid Chicago night in 2018? In 2021, ABC is attempting to bury the story. The actor's elaborate accusations — and thus ABC’s reporting —  quickly unraveled and the Empire actor is now on trial for lying. On Monday, Smollett offered convoluted testimony in his own defense. Usually, a celebrity criminal trial would be of interest to the tabloid-loving ABC. But on Monday night, ABC’s World News Tonight completely skipped it. On Tuesday morning, Good Morning America avoided it as well. CBS on Monday night and Tuesday morning finally reported on the hoax trial. Before last night, they had not. By Tuesday morning, the network total was now at 5 minutes and 10 seconds. Now that they’ve discovered it, CBS reporters are skeptical of Smollett. On Tuesday’s CBS Mornings, analyst Rikki Klieman warned, “It a terribly high risk for Jussie Smollett to take the witness stand in his own defense.” The co-hosts were unimpressed with Smollett’s testimony.