DC’s “bad boy reporter” just filed a pretty bad piece of journalism.
Jason Mattera — editor of Human Events and known ambush interviewer — recently posted what purported to be an interview with U2’s Bono. In the clip, Mattera tries to go after Bono, suggesting the singer moved his charity’s office to avoid higher taxes. Breitbart.com touted the interview — now removed — as a tax dodge by Bono.
But, just one small problem. It wasn’t Bono. It was an impersonator. A representative for ONE, the real Bono’s charity, confirmed to TPM that the legendary Irish singer wasn’t even in the U.S. at the time of Mattera’s “interview.”
Mattera appeared on Sean Hannity’s radio show Tuesday to promote the clip, saying that “Bono” filibusters forever without any actual explanation.” Mattera didn’t respond to TPM’s request for comment, but he told the Washington Post that he “got punked.”
“I thought I got Bono,” he told the Post’s Erik Wemple. “I didn’t. I got his impersonator apparently. Hats off to him. He got me — and how!” writes Mattera in an e-mail. “After scores of interviews with big-time politicians and celebrities, I finally got had. It was bound to happen sooner or later. On the bright side, if I’m gonna get had as good as I did, it might as well be in pursuit of one of the greatest rockers ever.”
A spokesperson for Hannity’s radio show did not return TPM’s requests for comment. On Twitter Tuesday night, though, Hannity said the video would appear on his program Wednesday night.
Watch Mattera’s original interview:
And listen to Mattera’s interview with Hannity:
h/t Media Matters.
David Taintor
David Taintor is TPM’s News Editor. He contributes to TPM’s Livewire coverage, among other areas. David is from Chanhassen, Minnesota, where, yes, it gets very cold. Reach him at taintor [at] talkingpointsmemo.com
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