In response, the "New York Times" ombudsman, Clark Hoyt stated it "was a normal and reasonable editorial decision" not to run the article. He said the "Times" had run four other stories on ACORN. The story in question had remained unpublished because Anita Moncrief had not provided independently verifiable proof. In addition, The Times ombudsman stated that Moncrief had not given sworn testimony to Congress as claimed by O'Reilly, and that she had credibility problems, having been fired from Acorn for employee theft.