Does the Honorable Speaker still not get it that the country is exhausted by scandals, appearance of scandals and, more importantly, the "above the law" attitude of Congress?
I love the potential for government to do good. I am dismayed at how insular Washington is, and how so many Members of Congress have decided to become the Ruling Class instead of elected representatives.
The Speaker and Rep Pelosi post the question, "how dare the FBI (executive branch) get a warrant (judicial branch) to search a Congressman's office (legislative branch)?"
I ask, how dare they NOT????

mr ross

that's what abc news knows?
that's not what you reported last night. he's either under investigation or he's not. well, which is it??
it's extremely condescending, to treat us like five-year olds by taking the so-called "story" to all kinds of tangents. do you still stand by your story? is he or isn't he under investigation? the dept of justice says no. time to bring your "sources" to bear.

The $25,000 was on Hastert's bribe menu for writing the letter. The other $1,000 was a tip.

Heres an idea quit spinniing this and admit the error. If not I hope Hastert does prosecute. This type of "reporting" has to be purged. Your Jobs are to report accurate news...not spin news already proven inaccurate.

Bryan Ross is going to go the way of Dan Rather - I'll watch Britt Hume and the Fox all stars to get the truth. Ross what a disappointment and know trying to shift blame. Hastert is blaming ABC and the Ross report and that rediculour QA with Vargas and George - I won't watch ABC again!

Where is your retraction on the Haestert story??? Bad reporting,
when you do not get confirmation
from the Govt. agency YOU claim is investigating the Speaker. Another Dan Ratherlike reporting disaster.

Uhmm Brian, I wouldn't exactly call Democracy 21 who is supported by George Sorros "Non Partisan".

It also seems that what ABC knows has sure changed alot from your first post.

You used to know that "Hastert is being Investigated" Then you knew "Hastert was in the mix" now you know that the FBI is "looking" at a letter signed by over 30 congressman and that Democracy 21 wished someone would be investigated.

Seems like another left wing site "got out in front of the news cycle"

Once again, ABC News gets it wrong. Brian Ross is clearly more interested in advancing his own career than in objective reporting.

Dennis Hastert IS NOT under investigation, end of story here.

I watched your report on Mr Hasterd Wednesday night and was given the impression that it was only a matter of time for the indictment. However as I listened to Mr Hasterd on Chicago's W.G.N. the next day and the Justice Dept. I concluded Mr. Ross got it wrong. Tonight he refused to give an apolgy So apparantly he'll be like Mr Rather and loss his credibility and become the butt of jokes .

Same old Republicans. Same old party of Nixon and Agnew. Gimmee, gimmee, gimmee! And they say history doesn't repeat itself! - Hell, we even got bugging and wiretapping, just like the bad old Nixon days of Watergate and the Columbia Plaza.

What I want is a photo gallery of the mugshots of all 57 or 81 or whatever the number is of Republican congressman that Abramoff was funding.

Re: Hastert story. Does anyone wonder why we doubt the reliability and objectivity of MSM? If reporting on a story needs to be changed, write a new story that makes it clear what new knowledge justifies what change, don't just try to blow it past us. That is insulting, and in these days of the 24-7 blogging it has zero chance of success. It is pretty discouraging to be reminded that the bright people we rely upon for information are either not smart enough or not ethical enough to figure this out for themselves.

Mr. Ross: It is reporters like you that have changed Americans' opinions of their news media from that of trust to that of disdain.

The change in the tenor and content of your story in the last 24 hours is remarkable in what it reveals about you as a journalist and ABC News.

Liberals, conservatives, moderates and the unlabeled are ever more distrustful of "the media" and their shadowy, anonymous "sources."

Maryann, Fox News commits more fabrications on their news programs than any other network does in a year. No one makes a big deal because outside of the far right wingnut section of the party, no one takes Fox seriously as a news source. If you watched the documentary "Outfoxed" with an open mind, you would call Dan Rather and apologize for being so blind.

I have to chuckle at how the right wingers love to try to obfuscate the main issue by blaming the messenger. The fact is that we have a letter that was signed by a number of members of Congress, including the speaker, which is intended to influence a decision by the secretary of the interior to be favorable to the interests of an admitted criminal. This was shortly after said criminal hosted a fundraiser for the speaker. However, determining whether Congress is up for sale under Dennis Hastert is not nearly as important as semantic nit-picking on how to best describe the investigation of this letter.
The Bushies aren't satisfied with a media outlet unless its "news" is thinly-disguised PR for the GOP such as we see on FOX.

I honest to God hope you guys get served with papers for liable tomorrow. What you are doing here is far worse than what Dan Rather did during the fake document cover up.

It is this kind of irresponsible journalism which leads many Americans to turn off the tube when it comes to news (or go to other sources).

I noticed that the story on Jefferson (who is under investigation for taking bribes) is no where to be found. Coincidence? Nope.

It appears that some may not like the fact that Mr Hastert may be 'playing the game'. Just a coincidence? Politicians, especially, should know that if wouldn't look good in the headlines it's probably not the right thing to do.

Lack of credible reporting is the hallmark of Faux News. That's not where one gets anything close to objective reporting found in the 'mainstream media'.

Brian dont throw in the towel yet Dennis Hastert has some explaining to do, the 100,000. Why does he think he is above the law ( how dare they). Its time to disband the good old boys system.

Mr. Ross I would say your reporting on this Hastert story has been "Mapled & Rathered"

Am I wrong?

This is totally unfair prosecution by innuendo by ABC News. Hastert deserves the benefit of the doubt and this kind of information should not be in the media. Now prosecutors may even have trouble getting a Grand Jury to bring charges if that's warranted.

What part of the truth in reporting do you not understand. Self serving fabricated news is NOT news but fiction. Your hip shot reporting on Hastert was nothing but a made up piece. Your bias is obvious and paramount, I hope he sues ABC and you personally. GET LOST!