The problem was that the story was never proven. In fact, it had already fallen apart. Which is why, on Tuesday afternoon, a week after its initial publication, Fox News retracted the article speculating about Rich’s WikiLeaks ties, removing the story from its website wholesale.

“On May 16,” the channel wrote in an unsigned message,

a story was posted on the Fox News website on the investigation into the 2016 murder of DNC Staffer Seth Rich. The article was not initially subjected to the high degree of editorial scrutiny we require for all our reporting. Upon appropriate review, the article was found not to meet those standards and has since been removed.

What’s notable in that is how unapologetic the language of the retraction is—both considering the length of time the story was allowed to remain on Fox’s site, and even more especially because of the speed and the volume at which it was amplified. That’s in one way unsurprising: The story that was framed as evidence of the mainstream media’s collusion had become, in fact, evidence of the mainstream media’s restraint. The story whose subtext was the mainstream media’s inherent untrustworthiness had proven its real subtext to be the opposite.

And it took days to obtain even that terse retraction.

On Wednesday, a day after it first published the comments suggesting Rich’s connection to WikiLeaks—from Rod Wheeler, the former detective who had been hired by the family to investigate his death—the Fox affiliate clarified its story, writing, “What he told FOX 5 DC on camera Monday regarding Seth Rich’s murder investigation is in clear contrast to what he has said over the last 48 hours. Rod Wheeler has since backtracked.”

The story on Fox remained. It retained its chorus-like status.

On Friday, Snopes published an analysis thoroughly debunking the Rich/WikiLeaks connection.

The story on Fox remained. It amplified further across social media.

On Sunday, NBC News reported that the family of Seth Rich had sent a cease-and-desist letter to Wheeler, referencing his “improper and unauthorized statements, many of which are false and have no basis in fact” and adding that Wheeler’s behavior “appears to have been deliberate, intentional, outrageous, and in patent disregard of the Agreement and the obvious damage and suffering it would cause the Family.”

On the same day, Hannity, in a tweet, called on Congress to “investigate Seth Rich murder.”

And on Monday, Geraldo Rivera echoed his Fox News colleague, tweeting: “1) #SethRich shot in back(2)worked for #DNC which, (3)screwed @BernieSanders 4)#WIKILEAKS screwed DNC(5)Did #sethrich leak?(6)is it related?”

On Monday, as well, under the rubric “Let It Go,” The Daily Beast published an article featuring interviews from “nearly a dozen” reporters, pundits, and hosts at the network, quoting them saying, “It’s just gross” and “ARE WE STILL AIRING THAT SHIT?!”