#ABC News suspends Matt Gutman over COVID violation: report

ABC News has suspended reporter Matt Gutman for violating company COVID-19 safety rules, according to a report.

Gutman, who has worked for the network since 2008, had gone into a hospital to report a story without first getting permission from management, a source told Deadline.

The chief national correspondent has covered numerous stories on the COVID-19 pandemic, including in Los Angeles where he’s based, the outlet reported.

It’s unclear how long Gutman will be under suspension.

A rep for Gutman and ABC News didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gutman was suspended by the network last year for erroneously reporting on-air that all of Kobe Bryant’s children were involved in the crash that killed the basketball star and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

He later corrected the error and apologized on Twitter.

“Today I inaccurately reported it was believed that four of Kobe Bryant’s children were on board that flight. That is incorrect. I apologize to Kobe’s family, friends and our viewers,” he wrote.