As the Media Research Center had previously documented, the liberal broadcast networks often give prominent Democrats cover when they’re accused of serious crimes by refusing to cover the story. But there seemed to be some accusations that manage to break through. During Tuesday’s evening broadcast, NBC Nightly News was the only network program to report that a second body was found in the apartment of “prominent Democratic activist and donor”, Ed Buck.
This was the second time in 18 months a body of a deceased man has been found in Buck’s West Hollywood apartment. “Overnight, protests erupting. Advocates from the gay and black community accusing Buck of using political influence to elude arrest,” reported NBC correspondent Miguel Almaguer.
How prominent of a Democratic activist was Buck? Well, according to an online report by NBC, “Federal election records show that Buck, 63, who has advocated for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues for decades, has donated more than $53,000 to Democratic candidates and to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee since 2008.”
Buck was also known for his “successful drive to impeach Republican Gov. Evan Mecham” of Arizona during the 1980s. And “Buck made headlines again in 2010 when he heckled Meg Whitman, a Republican candidate for governor of California, at a rally in Los Angeles. Chris Christie, then the governor of New Jersey, who was at the rally, stepped off the stage and confronted Buck.”
“Buck has rubbed shoulders with high profile Democrats, but made headlines after Moore's death when the coroner found drug paraphernalia in the apartment. Moore's mother blamed Buck,” Almaguer continued, showing pictures of Buck with two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and former California Governor Jerry Brown.
According to a lawyer who spoke with NBC News for Almaguer’s report, “It is exceedingly rare to have in an 18-month time span, two individuals, two death investigations from the same apartment.”
NBC’s online report also noted that “[t]he sheriff's department said Monday that Buck was present during both incidents and that investigators were reviewing the 2017 case again.”
As for Buck’s defense, as Almaguer noted, “Buck's attorney says the victim who died here this week had been a friend for 25 years and arrived at the home under the influence. But tonight, the sheriff's department says the case is under investigation as detectives also revisit the death from 2017.”
Instead of reporting on this, CBS promoted an impending teachers strike in Los Angeles (the same city) and ABC was fixated on a moose that wandered into a hospital’s lobby in Alaska.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
January 8, 2019
7:11:13 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: For the second time in less than 18 months, a body has been found at the home of a prominent Democratic activist and donor. NBC's Miguel Almaguer has details on the investigation.
[Cuts to video]
MIGUEL ALMAGUER: The 911 call came from here, an unidentified black man dead from an apparent overdose, found inside the West Hollywood home of prominent Democratic activist Ed Buck. It's the second time a body has been found inside his apartment. Gemmel Moore, an escort, OD'd there in 2017.
PROTESTERS: Arrest him now!
ALMAGUER: Overnight, protests erupting. Advocates from the gay and black community accusing Buck of using political influence to elude arrest.
ALAN JACKSON (lawyer): It is exceedingly rare to have in an 18-month time span, two individuals, two death investigations from the same apartment.
ALMAGUER: Buck has rubbed shoulders with high profile Democrats, but made headlines after Moore's death when the coroner found drug paraphernalia in the apartment. Moore's mother blamed Buck.
LATISHA NIXON: I just think he needs to be stopped before someone else dies in his apartment.
ALMAGUER: Buck's attorney says the victim who died here this week had been a friend for 25 years and arrived at the home under the influence. But tonight, the sheriff's department says the case is under investigation as detectives also revisit the death from 2017. Miguel Almaguer, NBC News, West Hollywood.
