Twitter was abuzz with the news that C-SPAN political editor Steve Scully has been suspended indefinitely after he conceded he had made up the story about his Twitter account being hacked, though signaled he could eventually return. 

Scully, who was to have moderated the Oct. 15 presidential debate before President Trump backed out was attacked by the President as a "never Trumper."

Related: C-SPAN Says Scully Tweet Was Bogus

A tweet from Scully's account appeared to have been a mistakenly-broadcast direct message asking former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci whether Scully should respond to Trump.

Scully had said the tweet was not his and alleged his account had been hacked. 

C-SPAN had backed the Washington Journal host and 30-year vet Scully, releasing a statement Oct. 9 saying Scully had not originated the tweet and that it believed his account had been hacked. It also said the Commission on Presidential Debates stated that the tweet was not sent by Scully and it was investigating the hack. That trust was apparently misplaced.

"For several weeks, I was subjected to relentless criticism on social media and in conservative news outlets regarding my role as moderator for the second presidential debate, including attacks aimed directly at my family," said Scully in a statement. "This culminated on Thursday, October 8, when I heard President Trump go on national television twice and falsely attack me by name. Out of frustration, I sent a brief tweet addressed to Anthony Scaramucci. The next morning when I saw that this tweet had created a new controversy, I falsely claimed that my Twitter account had been hacked. These were both errors in judgement for which I am totally responsible. I apologize.

"These actions have let down a lot of people, including my colleagues at C-SPAN, where I have worked for the past 30 years, professional colleagues in the media, and the team at the Commission on Presidential Debates. I ask for their forgiveness as I try to move forward in a moment of reflection and disappointment in myself."

C-SPAN was reflecting as well, but signaled there was a return path for Scully. 

"Steve Scully made us and the Commission aware of this new information late Wednesday" (Oct. 14), the network said in a statement. "By not being immediately forthcoming to C-SPAN and the Commission about his tweet, he understands that he made a serious mistake. We were very saddened by this news and do not condone his actions. During his 30 years at C-SPAN, Steve consistently demonstrated his fairness and professionalism as a journalist. He has built a reservoir of goodwill among those he has interviewed, fellow journalists, our viewers, and with us. Starting immediately, we have placed Steve on administrative leave. After some distance from this episode, we believe in his ability to continue to contribute to C-SPAN."

President Donald Trump's twitter attack on C-SPAN's Steve Scully as a "never Trumper" took on new life after a tweet from Scully's Twitter account appeared to seek guidance from Trump's former advisor Steve Scaramucci on whether he should respond to the President's tweet.

C-SPAN said the tweet seeking Scaramucci's advice was not from Scully, but instead the result of a hacked account.

Scully was to moderate the second presidential debate Oct. 15, but Trump pulled out after the Commission on Presidential Debates decided it should be a virtual debate due to the President's COVID-19. Democratic candidate Joe Biden has since said he would participate in an ABC town hall Oct. 15, moderated by George Stephanopoulos.

"Steve Scully, the second Debate Moderator, is a Never Trumper, just like the son of the great Mike Wallace. Fix!!!," the President tweeted. 

That was a reference to Chris Wallace, who moderated the first debate. Trump suggested he was debating both Wallace and Biden after the moderator asked him some tough questions and tried to keep him from talking over the former Vice President.

Trump's tweet came after a tweet from Scully's account Thursday night -- which C-SPAN has since claimed was not from Scully -- that appeared to be a direct tweet to Scaramucci asking him whether Scully should respond to the Trump attack.

"Last night a tweet from Steve Scully, C-SPAN's political editor, appeared on his timeline communicating with Anthony Scaramucci. Steve Scully did not originate the tweet and believes his account has been hacked. The Commission on Presidential Debates has stated publicly that the tweet was not sent by Scully himself and is investigating with the help of authorities."

While the C-SPAN tweet drew many replies, mostly skeptical of the hack claim, Washington Post political columnist Karen Tumulty tweeted praise for Scully's fairness as a journalist.