ABC removed the article without an explanation, then republished it on Oct. 9 with a correction acknowledging errors in descriptions of investments, government contracts and event chronologies. The original analysis claimed more than $6 billion in active or promised contracts. Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey disputed that total and the characterization of 1789 Capital’s investment as a major stake, saying the firm invested $50 million, about 1/1000th of the company, and that most of the contract total represented hypothetical ceilings.
Luckey is demanding an apology and disciplinary action. “I am definitely asking for them to publicly apologize and suspend the reporter responsible,” he said. The revised article replaced Lee’s byline with “By ABC NEWS.” Asked for further comment, an ABC spokesperson referred reporter Jeremy Barr to the editor’s note.