Whodunit? Fake CNN News Alert Says Gingrich Pressured Ex-Wife to Have Abortion

A fake CNN breaking news email was sent to South Carolina Republican activists early Thursday morning, claiming GOP presidential contender Newt Gingrich pressured his second ex-wife to have an abortion, CNN reported:

The email alert was sent from fake account made to look like a CNN breaking news email address: "BreakingNews@mail.cnn.com."

"A source close to Marianne Gingrich tells CNN that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich forced her to abort a pregnancy conceived during the affair that preceeded her marriage to Gingrich," the fake email reads.

The cable news network said it did not send out the fake alert, which came amid intense speculation over an interview with Marianne Gingrich set to air on ABC. In the interview, which aired Thursday night, Marianne Gingrich revealed her ex-husband wanted to have an open marriage. She has made no claim about being pressured to have an abortion.

According to CNN, it's not clear how many people received the email, though at least two members of South Carolina's GOP executive committee said they'd gotten it. Gingrich has experienced a surge in the polls ahead of the state's Saturday primary.

Gingrich blasted the network's John King during the GOP debate Thursday for asking about his ex-wife's interview, excoriating the "destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media" and saying he was "appalled" King opened the debate with the question.