Unhappy Trump suggests investors sue ABC News

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sunday lashed out at ABC News, two days after investigative reporter Brian Ross made an erroneous report involving the president.

Ross incorrectly reported Friday that during Trump’s presidential campaign, Trump directed Michael Flynn to make contact with Russian officials before the election.

Later that night, Ross read a “clarification” on “ABC World News Tonight,” saying Trump had actually asked Flynn to make contact with Russia after the election, when he was president-elect.

Flynn, who briefly served as Trump’s national security adviser after the election, pleaded guilty Friday to lying to the FBI.

ABC News apologized for the mistake Saturday and issued a full correction. The network also suspended Ross for four weeks without pay.

On Twitter Saturday night, Trump initially offered his “congratulations” to ABC News for “suspending Ross for his horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report on the Russia, Russia, Russia Witch Hunt.”

Many Trump supporters accused Ross of propagating “fake news” and linked his report to the Dow Jones industrial average dropping 350 points.

On Sunday, the president took aim at the network, calling for those affected by the stock market losses to “consider hiring a lawyer and suing ABC for the damages this bad reporting has caused.”

The network had “broken” Ross’ report Friday with a tweet that read: “JUST IN: @BrianRoss on @ABC News Special Report: Michael Flynn promised “full cooperation to the Mueller team” and is prepared to testify that as a candidate, Donald Trump “directed him to make contact with the Russians.”

Later Friday, ABC issued a “clarification,” in the form of a new tweet and Ross’ on-air appearance. The subsequent tweet, which has also since been deleted, read: “CLARIFICATION of ABC News Special Report: Flynn prepared to testify that President-elect Donald Trump directed him to make contact with the Russians *during the transition* - initially as a way to work together to fight ISIS in Syria, confidant now says.”