Erik Wemple:
Just before midnight, The Post struck with another big investigative piece stemming from its scrutiny of the Secret Service. Titled “Aides knew of possible White House link to Cartagena, Colombia, prostitution scandal” under the bylines of Carol D. Leonnig and David Nakamura, the article questions whether the White House may have been a touch quick to clear its own people of involvement in the Cartagena prostitution scandal that engulfed the Secret Service in 2012.
The White House was unimpressed with the story. Press Secretary Josh Earnest tweeted:
Supposed WaPo "exclusive" was previously reported by AP, CBS, ABC, Politico, The Hill & others – 2 years ago. http://t.co/dk9qV0TbJK
— J Earnest (Archived) (@PressSec44) October 9, 2014
For a White House often rapped for a lack of transparency, Earnest’s tweet is helpful in that it opens the door for an Erik Wemple Blog Side-by-Side Special. If Earnest’s contention is correct, the table below should be evenly balanced, with the Post’s reporting echoed point-by-point by the Associated Press’s reporting. Let’s have a look.
“We were directed at the time . . . to David Nieland, the lead investigator on the Colombia case for the DHS inspector general’s office, told Senate staffers, according to three people with knowledge of his statement.
Legally, the government may lie to the American people BUT it may NOT lie to itself.
And that’s what happened here.
The Executive Branch LIED to the Legislative Branch.
Then somebody committed suicide over his part in the affair.
So, this deserves exposure.
And, no, it is NOT ”old news.” (Which is a perfect oxymoron from Josh Earnest….was he ”joshing,” or was be being ”earnest?”)
@Nanny G: When a new scandal appears every day in this administration, this morning’s scandal is likely old news this afternoon.
Why this? Why now? Is Jeff Bezos putting his imprint on the POST? Are Democrats actually going to be held to account for their cover ups? Will ABC, CBS, NBC start to cover the news? They haven’t for six years…is this the beginning of the media’s move away from Obama and over to Hillary?
It’s a soap opera. Stay tuned.