The mainstream press took a beating for reporting that Rep. Stephanie Tubbs (D-OH) had died around 2 pm on August 20, hours before she actually passed. Most press organizations corrected the story during the afternoon, after a family friend announced that Tubbs was in critical condition, until her family officially disclosed her death after 6 pm. The Associated Press explained that various Democratic officials said Tubbs had died, even noting that top party officials believed she was dead.