The Bernstein Brief: Conflicting Reports Cloud The Patrick Kane Case
By Dan Bernstein--
(CBS) This kind of battle over facts between reporters at major media outlets is rare these days, so it's notable when it happens. We're not dealing with opinion here, but what's actually going on. Or not.
When the Erie County (N.Y.) grand jury investigating rape allegations against Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was postponed on Sept. 8, the Buffalo News reported talks between Kane and his accuser regarding a civil settlement that could resolve any criminal case. Shortly thereafter, anchor Scott Levin of WGRZ-TV in Buffalo flatly refuted that report, tweeting: "SOURCE: Still NO talks have taken place AT ALL between #PatrickKane lawyers and alleged rape victim."
In similar fashion, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday evening that talks between the parties were ongoing, despite denials to multiple media outlets from Kane's attorney Paul Cambria, who said, "I don't know where this is coming from."
While it is possible that Cambria is either hiding the truth or unaware of talks being conducted on Kane's behalf by another lawyer, Levin again took to Twitter on Wednesday night to rebut the report entirely. He wrote "SOURCE: Once again, NO negotiations OR talks are taking place between lawyers in the #patrickkane case as of tonight."
This has no gray area. Somebody's right, and somebody's wrong.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.