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AP FACT CHECK: Sarah Palin didn’t criticize black Santa

AP FACT CHECK: Sarah Palin didn't criticize black Santa | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - In a Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 file photo, Sarah Palin, political commentator and former governor of Alaska, walks on the sideline before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams, in Seattle. A story claiming Palin called for boycotting the Mall of America in Minnesota over its black Santa Claus is false. (AP Photo/Scott Eklund, File)

MINNEAPOLIS – A story claiming former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called for boycotting the Mall of America in Minnesota over its black Santa Claus is false.

The story, posted by Newslo and some affiliated websites, claims Palin told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, “Santa was always white in the Bible.” It’s been widely shared on Facebook.

But the Star Tribune never ran such a story. And the newspaper’s managing editor, Suki Dardarian, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that none of her reporters ever spoke with Palin about the mall’s recent hiring of its black Santa.

Palin appeared to deny the false story in a Facebook post earlier this month, posting a shot of that story with an acerbic comment.

Palin family attorney John Tiemessen was checking on a more detailed response.

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The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

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