Mother Jones: Audio Wasn’t Product Of ‘Watergate-Style Bugging Operation’

Mother Jones' David Corn
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Mother Jones’ David Corn, who on Tuesday published a blockbuster report on the opposition research tactics of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s campaign, said an audio recording of McConnell campaign aides discussing Ashley Judd’s history of depression was not “the product of a Watergate-style bugging operation.”

Corn’s statement comes after the McConnell campaign asked the FBI to investigate how the tape was produced. In a statement to CNN, McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton said, “Obviously a recording device of some kind was placed in Senator McConnell’s campaign office without consent. By whom and how that was accomplished will presumably be the subject of a criminal investigation. We’ve always said the Left will stop at nothing to attack Sen. McConnell, but Watergate-style tactics to bug campaign headquarters is above and beyond.”

Corn said Mother Jones is still waiting on McConnell to comment on the story, adding that multiple requests for comment went unanswered. Below is Corn’s full statement:

“We are still waiting for Sen. Mitch McConnell to comment on the substance of the story. Before posting this article, we contacted his Senate office and his campaign office—in particular, his campaign manager, Jesse Benton—and no one responded. As the story makes clear, we were recently provided the tape by a source who wished to remain anonymous. We were not involved in the making of the tape, but we published a story on the tape due to its obvious newsworthiness. It is our understanding that the tape was not the product of a Watergate-style bugging operation. We cannot comment beyond that.”

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