MSNBC apologizes for airing video of wrong Black congressman - Los Angeles Times
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MSNBC apologizes for showing video of wrong Black congressman

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) died earlier this week from cancer.
(Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)
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MSNBC apologized Wednesday for mistakenly airing video of another Black congressman while reporting a day earlier on the death of Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida.

During the report on Hastings, the network aired archival video of Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) instead. The report correctly included some still photos of Hastings.

MSNBC first tweeted an apology Tuesday. A day later, the network’s Hallie Jackson apologized on the air.

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The mistake “never should have happened,†Jackson said Wednesday. “We are sorry it did. Congressman Hastings served the state of Florida for nearly three decades in the House and deserves a tribute worthy of that service.â€

Hastings, a former federal judge who had been impeached, was first elected to Congress in 1992. He announced two years ago that he had pancreatic cancer.

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