

The New York Times fell victim early Tuesday morning to a fake Twitter account purporting to belong to recently resigned national security advisor Michael Flynn, reporting on it as though it belonged to the real Flynn.

“On Tuesday morning, Mr. Flynn wrote on Twitter: ‘While I accept full responsibility for my actions, I feel it is unfair that I have been made the sole scapegoat for what happened. But if a scapegoat is what’s needed for this Administration to continue to take this great nation forward, I am proud to do my duty,'” reported The Times.

Elsewhere they reported that “Mr. Flynn said on Twitter that he had recommended Mr. Harward as his replacement.” Both statements appear to be based on a fake account set up only two weeks ago.

While I accept full responsibility for my actions, I feel it is unfair that I have been made the sole scapegoat for what happened. (1/2) — Michael Flynn (@GenMikeFlynn) February 14, 2017

But if a scapegoat is what’s needed for this Administration to continue to take this great nation forward, I am proud to do my duty. — Michael Flynn (@GenMikeFlynn) February 14, 2017

I have recommended that @POTUS appoint Vice Adm Harward to be my successor as NSA. (1/2) — Michael Flynn (@GenMikeFlynn) February 14, 2017

A fake account was also set up for Flynn’s son Michael Flynn, Jr. Amusingly, the two accounts both denounced the other as a fake.

It has come to my attention that a FAKE Twitter account @GenMikeFlynn has been set up to impersonate my father. — Michael flynn Jr (@MichaelFlynnJr) February 14, 2017

It has come to my attention that a FAKE Twitter account @MichaelFlynnJr has been set up to impersonate my son. — Michael Flynn (@GenMikeFlynn) February 14, 2017

Nonetheless, the Times fell for the fake account hours later. The references have since been removed and a correction added: “Because of an editing error, an earlier version quoted three posts from an unverified Twitter account purporting to be Mr. Flynn’s, responding to the resignation.”

[Image via Shutterstock]

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