Chuck Todd may have saved MSNBC from an enormous blunder this morning when he stopped one of the network's analysts from speculating on the electronic trails of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.
Todd's decision to interrupt an analyst on air shows just how cautious some media organizations have become in a week that has been defined by conflicting reports and misinformation. But the crisis Todd averted bore greater similarity to the one ABC's Brian Ross was responsible for last July when based off a single website he reported that the Aurora shooting suspect may have had connections to the tea party.
On today's edition of MSNBC's Daily Rundown which Todd hosts NBC News analyst Evan Kohlmann started describing what he believed was one of the suspect's Amazon wish lists that is a list of products the suspect wanted to buy on Amazon.com the online retail site.
(PHOTOS Boston Marathon bombing suspects)
Let me stop you there Todd said. We don't know for sure this is one of his Amazon wish lists
I want to stress we don't know for sure but it is certainly his name.... Kohlmann said before being interrupted by Todd.
I've got to stop you there Todd said. Our folks we don't necessarily want to put this on air yet until we verify it.
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Kohlmann said he understood then started speculating on possible links between the suspects and Al Qaeda or other organized terror networks on the Afghanistan Pakistan border which he said have been known to use Chechens or individuals who look like Chechens.
One of those groups is known as the Islamic Jihad Union Kohlmann said.
In the studio off camera a voice could be heard saying Oh my God.
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Todd finally cut in again I didn't mean to cut you off but we don't want to draw so many conclusions he said. But your point is that this is the type of string that the intelligence community is going to start pulling at is that right.
Kohlmann confirmed that then stipulated that though this was relevant background information he did not know which groups were involved.
UPDATE (11 05 a.m.) Kohlmann emails
At no time did I ever suggest any specific terrorist organization was directly responsible for this week's tragic events in Boston. To the contrary I have repeatedly and emphatically cautioned that these events are likely within the capabilities of individual actors and in fact I have cited public denials from groups like the Pakistani Taliban and the Chechen mujahideen. However I believe it is indeed worthwhile to at least explore the possibility that there was an organization involved and which groups are credible potential culprits.
This post has been updated.
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