Rather Sues CBS for "Old News"

Remember this story?

Pentagon Says Bush Records of Service Were Destroyed
HOUSTON, July 8 - Military records that could help establish President Bush's whereabouts during his disputed service in the Texas Air National Guard more than 30 years ago have been inadvertently destroyed, according to the Pentagon.

It said the payroll records of "numerous service members," including former First Lt. Bush, had been ruined in 1996 and 1997 by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service during a project to salvage deteriorating microfilm. No back-up paper copies could be found, it added in notices dated June 25.

The destroyed records cover three months of a period in 1972 and 1973 when Mr. Bush's claims of service in Alabama are in question.

Source: New York Times, July 2004

Dan Rather does.

In fact, Rather narrated a story on CBS's "60 Minutes II" back in Sept. 2004, and is suing the network for $70 million under the premise that the story caused him serious financial loss and damage to his reputation.

Rather and Mary Mapes, the producer of the piece, have since left CBS.

Network spokespeople scratching their heads about the lawsuit filed by the veteran newsanchor, and are calling the story "old news."

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