FOR THE RECORD

McChrystal Cleared in Pentagon Inquiry

Report can’t confirm scandalous Rolling Stone article.

Greg Mortenson isn’t the only person being fact-checked these days. The Defense Department investigated Michael Hastings’ controversial Rolling Stone article on General Stanley McChrystal and cleared the general, his aides, and civilian advisers of all wrongdoing. Pentagon investigators said they were unable to confirm the events reported in the article, which portrayed McChrystal and his staff making disparaging comments about President Obama’s national security team. In the article, titled “The Runaway General,” an aide was quoted referring to Vice President Joe Biden with the phrase “bite me,” and Gen. James Jones, the national security adviser, was called a “clown.” Shortly after the article ran, McChrystal returned to Washington and resigned. Hastings and his editor have repeatedly defended the article’s accuracy.