BuzzFeed Editor-In-Chief Ben Smith (pictured above) said Friday night that the publication stood “by our reporting” that President Donald Trump had directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.
Nearly a day after that report was published, Mueller spokesperson Peter Carr released a rare statement disputing it.
Smith tweeted Friday night: “We stand by our reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he’s disputing.”
In response to the statement tonight from the Special Counsel's spokesman: We stand by our reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing.
— Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 19, 2019
Smith spoke in similar terms during an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
JUST IN: BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith calls into @MSNBC to discuss the special counsel’s new statement, and BuzzFeed News’ response to that statement, with @chrislhayes. pic.twitter.com/oYcf3Q3MQ4
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) January 19, 2019
The website released another statement later Saturday, to Jon Levine of The Wrap:
NEW:
Latest statement from BuzzFeed
“As we’ve re-confirmed our reporting, we’ve seen no indication that any specific aspect of our story is inaccurate. We remain confident in what we’ve reported, and will share more as we are able.”
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) January 19, 2019
Carr had said in response to the BuzzFeed News report that its “description of specific statements to the Special Counsel’s Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony are not accurate.”
What if the “two federal law enforcement officials” Buzzfeed references giving them the scoop turn out to be aides associated with Mark Whitaker at Justice? Hey, it’s not so crazy, especially these days. I’ve seen crazier stuff in the last two years. Just saying.
Glad to see this specific response from Buzzfeed, especially if it deflates Don the Con and his giddiness.
Mueller’s statement disputing BuzzFeed’s story that Trump told Cohen to lie really didn’t argue with the veracity of the underlying matter. Rather, Mueller quibbled with details of how it occurred.
What is curious is why did Mueller see the need to issue such a vague denial? What made them do so? Did fake AG Whitaker order it? Or was Mueller doing it to preserve sources and protect testimony?
The whole issue is very strange.
And, now, ladies and gentlemen, in corner one we have Buzzfeed and in corner two is the Office of Special Council. May the best organization win.
What is the inaccuracy? That’s the question. Muller’s office deliberately will not say!
The Special Councils Office did not say that Cohen lied about being instructed to lie to Congress by tRump. Cohen has already admitted in federal Court he lied about Trump Towers Russia. That “unprecedented” statement, that was not “directly disputing the story but giving a sort of general warning that there had been inaccuracies out there and every journalist should be careful about their sources.” SCO is feeling pressured to reveal what they have to the public and to congress and the Buzzfeed article puts pressure on Mueller to accelerate his schedule. With impeachment being a real possibility now that the Dems own the house many in congress want as much ammunition as they can get from Mueller. Congress want to move on impeachment now-even before the Buzzfeed story broke.
“Mueller was in possession of “internal company emails, text messages, and a cache of other documents” that displayed Trump’s “directive for Cohen to lie to Congress,” and that Cohen had “acknowledged those instructions” in interviews with Mueller’s office.”
That’s the Special Councils Office dispute. They don’t say that Cohen did not verbally tell them tRump instructed him to lie to Congress. They don’t even say Cohen is lying. This statement was very carefully crafted. There is something Mueller doesn’t want to be made public yet I believe. Or, Mueller’ has a specific time frame that he’s working on and Buzzfeed stepped on it which compelled the Democratic’s to want to start impeachment proceeding Monday. This is Mueller’s way of slowing things down because they will not respond to Buzzfeeds request to clarify their dispute.
Interesting-Mueller had Buzzfeeds story for hours before it went public and they didn’t say a word to them but once the Democratic’s jumped on it-boom there is an issue. I think if the Dems didn’t respond they way that they did Mueller’s office wouldn’t have made that statement.