Bill O’Reilly Lying About Rescue Story, Says Cameraman; O’Reilly Denies Working With Him

Bill O’Reilly Lying About Rescue Story, Says Cameraman; O’Reilly Denies Working With Him

The most direct challenge to multiple Bill O’Reilly controversies was published on Monday, as a cameraman whom O’Reilly claims to have rescued during 1982 coverage of Buenos Aires riots says the Fox News host made up his account.

On Fox News in 2013, O’Reilly claimed to have rescued his photographer, who was bleeding from the ear: “My photographer got run down and then hit his head and was bleeding from the ear on the concrete. And the army was chasing us … I dragged him off.”

Mother Jones tracked down the man who claims to have been O’Reilly’s cameraman, who flatly denied O’Reilly’s story.

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“I never fell nor was I bleeding out my ear at any time during my Buenos Aires assignment,” Ignacio Medrano-Carbo said. “I do not even recall Mr. O’Reilly being near me when I shot all that footage nor after I left the unrest at Plaza de Mayo that evening. But it is not uncommon to be separated from your reporter during a disturbance such as that one.”

O’Reilly disputes the claim, telling TheWrap, “I never worked with Ignacio Medrano-Carbo. This is nothing more than yet another coordinated attack which predictably comes on the heels of my appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.”

Another member of the CBS crew, Jim Forrest, also confirmed Medrano-Carbo was paired with O’Reilly that night.

Medrano-Carbo also disputes O’Reilly’s account that a different CBS News cameraman, Robert Moreno, was his cameraman on the night in question.

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“Mr. Moreno was indeed there, but at that time he was a sound man and working with seasoned CBS cameraman Carl Sorensen,” Medrano-Carbo said. “Mr. Moreno, who became my friend, did not pick up a camera until years later. My last name is Medrano perhaps; Mr. O’Reilly got confused since Mr. Moreno went on to shoot for CBS News? Medrano? Moreno?”

The cameraman also echoed the sentiments of several other CBS staffers, saying they aren’t aware of any member of their crew who was hurt during coverage of the Argentinean riots — nor any rioters who was killed, as O’Reilly has said.

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“Lastly, I can confirm that no one I know of who worked with me in Buenos Aires during the Falkland War ever heard of any CBS crew member getting beat or hurt. Nor did any demonstrators get killed that night at Plaza de Mayo — to quote a colleague, ‘or we would’ve been following up at the morgue and interviewing family members.'”

Related stories from TheWrap:

Bill O'Reilly vs. Brian Williams: Why the Media Is Treating Them Differently

Bill O'Reilly Questioned Further as Mother Jones Releases Falklands War Report (Video)

Jon Stewart Laughs at Bill O'Reilly Allegations: 'No One's Watching Him for the Actual Truth' (Video)