On Saturday, a representative from the Associated Press (AP) clarified to Breitbart News that the organization lacks the “geolocation data” it previously claimed to have. This data was mentioned in relation to a story about Bernie Moreno, a candidate for the Ohio Senate. Lauren Easton, the AP’s director of communications, confirmed the absence of this data while still supporting the story and its reporter, Brian Slodysko.
The revelation came after the AP had reported that an email address belonging to Moreno was used to create an account on Adult Friend Finder in 2008. The reports raised questions about Moreno’s involvement, though they admitted uncertainty about whether Moreno himself created the account. Doubts were cast on Moreno’s team’s explanation, which included a statement from a former intern claiming responsibility for the account as a prank, and another from an executive at Moreno’s company confirming the intern’s access to Moreno’s email.
The AP stories had suggested that “geolocation data” linked the account’s creation directly to Moreno. This was based on the account’s registration under Moreno’s work email and correct date of birth, and its association with a Fort Lauderdale, Florida location where Moreno’s parents owned property at the time.
However, it has now been clarified that the AP’s claim of having “geolocation data” was based solely on the zip code provided during the account’s creation. This revelation undermines the initial implication that the AP possessed concrete evidence of the account’s creation location. The AP has yet to update or correct its original stories, despite these admissions.
The situation was further illuminated by a tweet from Andrew Conru, the founder of Adult Friend Finder. In 2008, the site used a simple lookup table to match zip codes to geographic coordinates, a far cry from the precise location tracking implied by the term “geolocation data.” Conru’s tweet suggested that the story’s premise might align more with a prank than with a serious accusation against Moreno.
Despite the scrutiny, the AP maintains its stance on the story’s credibility. However, the absence of “geolocation data” casts doubt on the narrative’s foundation. This development comes as Moreno receives significant support from top Republicans and former President Donald Trump ahead of the primary election. The controversy has not deterred local media and political figures in Ohio from rallying behind Moreno, challenging the AP’s portrayal of the situation.