WASHINGTON — Citing a "conflict of interest," Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Wednesday declined to criticize the news media for its coverage of the U.S. economy.
When asked by a lawmaker if news reports of the slowing economy had been overblown and were in part to blame for the sharp drop in consumer confidence, Greenspan replied, "Take that up with the media, I have a conflict of interest."
Greenspan is married to NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell.
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The response drew laughter from lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee. Greenspan was before the panel to present his economic report card for the United States.