Key facts
- NPR retracted an article that incorrectly stated Justice Samuel Alito was retiring.
- The story was written by NPR Supreme Court correspondent Nina Totenberg.
- NPR cited a misunderstanding as the reason for the error.
- Justice Alito has not announced his retirement.
National Public Radio retracted an article on Tuesday that incorrectly reported Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was retiring. The story, authored by NPR's veteran Supreme Court reporter Nina Totenberg, was quickly removed from the outlet's website and an on-air correction was broadcast. Editor-in-Chief Tommy Evans stated that the error was due to a misunderstanding and that neither Justice Alito nor the Supreme Court's public information office had announced his retirement. Totenberg is expected to address the issue on NPR's 'All Things Considered' and has apologized to Alito. The retraction came after the Supreme Court's public information office denied the report. Speculation about the 76-year-old justice's future plans had circulated earlier in the year, but reports indicated he intended to remain on the court.