He only reversed his comments when he was confronted by the truth, i.e., his father's statements.
The larger issue is why is this guy is a gatekeeper for the NYT on the internet. Did he lie about his connection with the Obama and Clinton campaigns? His Antifa connection?
As an employer, I would have a hard time defending keeping this guy on the payroll. He is a liability. It was all a joke just doesn't wash. I predict that he will be let go soon by the NYT.
He definitely has a conflict of interest. There is no doubt about his bias and the fact that it affects his work.