Remember the Chandra Levy case? Let me refresh your memory. A young woman disappeared. It came out that she'd been having an affair with the otherwise-married Congressman Gary Condit. Much of the press (and the nation) suddenly decided that Condit must have arranged to have her killed and the main proof seemed to be that he was reportedly evasive and unhelpful in the police investigation. It eventually came out that someone else had killed her but Congressman Condit's reputation was destroyed, above and beyond the shame that might have befallen a married public official who was caught sleeping around.
Suzanne Smalley was one of the reporters who contributed to the widespread idea that Condit was obviously guilty and had tried to impede the police. Turns out he wasn't guilty and didn't try to impede the police but, hey, it was a good story for a while, right? She looks back at the case.