DIRTY TRICKS: As Spicer threatened to smear a journo, ‘WH source’ planted bogus story
Are we living in a banana republic yet? I’d say the answer is a big yes. Raw Story has the sordid details.
A spokesman for Politico, which published a story about a White House leak investigation that upset Sean Spicer, claims the press secretary threatened to share information seemingly intended to punish one of the website’s reporters, according to the Washington Post.
Politico’s Alex Isenstadt and Annie Karni published a story Sunday on a surprise meeting called by Spicer, who examined aides’ phones and other electronic devices for evidence of leaks — and then multiple sources leaked details of that meeting.
Hours after that report, the Washington Examiner cited anonymous “White House officials” to claim Isenstadt had laughed at a Trump aide’s emotional reaction to the death of Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens.
The Post‘s Erik Wemple reported that Isenstadt admits to laughing during a call with Spicer, but Politico spokesman Brad Dayspring said the reporter had laughed at the press secretary’s vehement denial that he’d made an aide cry by criticizing her work.
