The Nine Network’s A Current Affair program has acknowledged charges laid against one of their senior reporters, vowing to cover the story “without fear or favour”.
At the start of Thursday night’s bulletin, presenter Leila McKinnon said veteran of the network Ben McCormack had been suspended after his arrest in Sydney around 7.30am.
“Here at A Current Affair we’ve always given it to you straight and told it like it is,” McKinnon said.
“Ben McCormack, a 25-year veteran of the Nine Network, was arrested today and charged by NSW Police with using a carriage service for child [abuse] material.”
McKinnon said that justice “must take its course” but stressed the network’s “strong position” on the matter.
“A Current Affair has a long history of pursuing offenders in these type of cases and we intend to cover this story without fear or favour,” she said.
“We stress these charges relate to Ben McCormack’s alleged personal conduct and in no way reflect his behaviour with A Current Affair or within the Nine Network.”
Shortly after McCormack was arrested, police conducted a raid at his unit in Alexandria and at A Current Affair’s office at Willoughby where they seized several electronic devices.
The journalist was released from police custody a short time ago.
The full statement from A Current Affair is available here.
Feature Image: Nine News
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