Washington Post fact-checks Kimmel on edited Pence video: ‘Certainly a phony tale’

The Washington Post fact-checker weighed in Friday on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s video clip mocking Vice President Pence, who was caught on a hot mic apparently joking about carrying empty boxes while delivering personal protective equipment to a Virginia nursing home.

The video from ABC’s Kimmel shows Pence at the Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Alexandria and includes a clip of the vice president saying, “Well can I carry the empty ones? Just for the cameras?”

Kimmel shared the 40-second clip originally posted by Democratic political strategist Matt McDermott.

“A big box of nothing, delivering another box of nothing,” Kimmel wrote on Twitter to his 11.7 million followers.

Kimmel later deleted the tweet and apologized for mischaracterizing Pence’s actions, while still taking a shot at the Trump administration by saying, “I know how dearly this administration values truth.”

it would appear that @vp was joking about carrying empty boxes for a staged publicity stunt. The full video reveals that he was carrying full boxes for a staged publicity stunt. My apologies. I know how dearly this administration values truth. https://t.co/hI9cO4lxcX

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 8, 2020

“Kimmel is a comedian, but he still should be careful about perpetuating a narrative that the media peddles ‘fake news.’ This was certainly a phony tale, and it can undercut accurate and dogged reporting by real reporters,” Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler wrote.

“This is a clear case of manipulated video, according to our guide. It is an example of ‘deceptive editing-omission,’ ” he added.

Kessler said that because Kimmel apologized and deleted the tweet, he avoided being awarded four Pinocchios.

The Post’s fact-checker applies Pinocchios ranging from one to four, with four being reserved for what the column considers the most egregious statements.

Before Kimmel’s apology, the clip was tweeted by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell and Andrew Bates, rapid response director for former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. 

You would be hardpressed to find a better metaphor for the comically malicious incompetence of this failed government. https://t.co/xiUedLy4wB

— Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) May 8, 2020

This is a metaphor for so much of their botched response. https://t.co/tFksrFRhfJ

— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) May 8, 2020

I see Mike Pence is full of shit as usual… https://t.co/6p6utItmz2

— James Carville (@JamesCarville) May 8, 2020

What can we say? Fake photo op? https://t.co/cd4IJR4AU6

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) May 8, 2020

Mitchell, who also serves as an NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent, later noted that the video had been edited.

Glad we asked…turns out he was joking! We checked the original tape. Reporter on scene says @VP did deliver PPE https://t.co/XkZJsVaOWR

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) May 8, 2020

BuzzFeed News deputy director of breaking news David Mack and Washington Examiner reporter Jerry Dunleavy both cited C-SPAN’s full coverage of Pence’s delivery to show the edited video was misleading.

This isn’t true. The clip cuts out at a selective point. When you watch the CSPAN footage (9 min in), Pence makes the crack about carrying the empty ones and the guy says “Absolutely. They’re a lot easier!” Pence laughs then immediately shuts the van door. https://t.co/SOD5KAAPkH https://t.co/1ZODmvg2PG

— David Mack (@davidmackau) May 8, 2020

Here’s an unedited version of @VP Pence delivering PPE to Woodbine Rehab Center. The clip from @JimmyKimmel and sent viral by @mattmfm & others is quite deceptive. Pence is clearly joking when he talks about empty boxes for the camera, & shuts the van doors right after the quip. pic.twitter.com/HyV8iBiljS

— JERRY DUNLEAVY (@JerryDunleavy) May 8, 2020