'Study in disinformation': Fox News buried for rush to blame border crash on immigrants

A conservative columnist lambasted Fox News Monday for wrongly reporting a terrorist attack against the U.S. — without corroborating any facts.

When a deadly car crash occurred near the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge last week, Fox News and other right-wing media outlets were quick to report that a terrorist incident had occurred. But an investigation showed no evidence of foul play near the bridge, which links the U.S. and Canada.

The couple killed in the crash were identified as 56-year-old Kurt P. Villani and his wife Monica Villani. The crash occurred on the U.S. side of the border.

In a scathing column published by The Bulwark, Never Trump conservative Charlie Sykes called it shoddy journalism.

"A tragic car accident last Wednesday near a bridge on the Canadian-American border became a case study in disinformation, ideologically motivated opportunism, and all manner of demagogic b------t," Sykes said.

"And, of course, it all started with Fox News."

Sykes notes reporting by MeidasTouch, which was vehemently critical of Fox News.

On November 23, MeidasTouch reported, "Fox baselessly began employing the term 'Islamic terrorism,' describing hypothetical scenarios regarding potential casualties if the vehicle had advanced. They continued to tell their audience that the vehicle contained explosives. Fox Host John Roberts even speculated that the premature detonation of the vehicle might be attributed to the driver's insufficient expertise in handling explosives."

Roberts, MeidasTouch notes, told viewers, "We don't know how long the people who perpetrated this attack have been in this country. Did they recently come across? Did they come into the country legally? Did they come across illegally and claim asylum? Were they some of the nearly 1 million got-aways who come into this country? Were they radicalized in this country?"

READ MORE: 'Not responsible': Officials slam speculation on Rainbow Bridge explosion as Fox calls it terrorist attack

Sykes points out that in fact, "The driver was not an immigrant, an asylum seeker, a radicalized lone-wolf, a jihadi, or one of the 'nearly 1 million got-aways who come into this country.'"

The Never Trumper notes that Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), 2022 Arizona GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) all parroted the false claim that a terrorist attack had occurred.

"There was no terrorist attack," Sykes emphasizes. "No immigrants were involved."

READ MORE: 'Monster' Ted Cruz blasted over false terror attack claim: 'Truth means nothing to MAGA'