NPR has retracted a story reporting that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is retiring, after the article briefly appeared on its website Tuesday morning.
The report, written by prominent Supreme Court correspondent Nina Totenberg, was published before being quickly removed.
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In its place, NPR posted an editor's note stating, "This story has been taken down. It was published in error."
The retracted story spread rapidly due to the high stakes involved.
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If Alito were to step down, President Trump would have the opportunity to nominate a fourth Supreme Court justice, further solidifying his influence on the court.
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Totenberg has covered the Supreme Court for decades and is known for breaking major stories about the justices.
Her track record has led to speculation that the underlying reporting might be accurate, and the story may have been published prematurely.
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NPR has not provided any further explanation beyond the retraction notice. Neither Alito nor the Supreme Court has announced any retirement plans.
