MIAMI, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A Miami television station airing a Republican attack video aimed at former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist identified the source as the "Reprehensive Party."
WTVJ, the NBC affiliate in Miami, has apologized, the (South Florida) Sun Sentinel reported. It said the label "Reprehensive Party of Florida" was on the video when it came from Capital News Service, but its employees should have reviewed the footage before putting it on the air.
Crist, a Republican when he was governor, is seeking the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Gov. Rick Scott. The video accompanied a story about exchanges between the two.
The offending label was on the air for about 12 seconds during a newscast Friday.
"The story came to us from a news service we use out of Tallahassee that we have relied on for years with no issues. We do, however, know it was our responsibility to catch the graphic and we regret that we did not prevent it from airing. We are addressing this with our employees to ensure something like this doesn't happen again. Once again, we sincerely regret this incident," WTVJ said in a statement.
Capital News said one of its employees has been fired and another had already quit.
Lenny Curry, the Republican state chairman, said in a letter to WTVJ the party is considering legal action. He demanded an on-air apology.
"This blatant disregard for journalist ethics and impartiality is a complete abdication of your station's professional duty to truth at best and slander at worst," Curry said.
