Politico’s Mike Allen Reportedly Let Top Clinton Aide Write Playbook Item

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Politico’s Mike Allen reportedly allowed a top Hillary Clinton aide at the State Department to write an item for his morning newsletter Playbook, according to emails obtained and published by Gawker Friday.

In the November 2010 email exchange, Clinton adviser Philippe Reines sent Allen the text of a promotional blurb for a “behind-the-scenes” National Geographic documentary about the State Department.

Allen responded: “sweet – thanks and congrats.” Shortly after, Allen replied again with a slightly edited version of the promo item. The copy concluded with a cheeky shout out to Reines and Caroline Adler, the former State Department communications director: “If your Cabinet-level boss wonder why they ‘can’t get something like this done,’ blame Caroline and Philippe.”

Reines responded “Tytyty” to express his gratitude for the edits. He later responded again, asking Allen to pull the “Cabinet-level boss” line.

The “VIEWER ALERT” item appeared without Reines’ quip in the Nov. 8, 2010 edition of Playbook.

It’s not the first time Allen has run into ethically murky territory with his inside-the-Beltway newsletter. Late last year, he came under fire for emails to Reines offering Chelsea Clinton a “no risk” interview as part of his Playbook-branded breakfast speaking series. He later apologized, writing “MY BAD!” in the newsletter. Days later, Gawker published a round of emails that showed Allen offered an unnamed senior Democratic lawmaker a similar arrangement in exchange for an interview.

Allen, whose Playbook has long been a lucrative Politico product, is slated to leave the site later this year.

In response to a request for comment by Gawker, Allen deferred to a Politico spokesperson, who said in a statement:

This National Geographic television special was worth flagging for Playbook readers and as such the information was condensed into our signature, bite-sized format with a link to the outside source.

A TPM request for comment from Allen was not immediately returned Friday.

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