WH Brainstorms Ways To Smoke Out Op-Ed Author: Lie Detector Tests, Sworn Affidavits

Man holding the New York Times in his hand
Man holding the New York Times in his hand. (Photo by: Andia/UIG via Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

As speculation buzzes both inside and outside the Trump administration about the identity of the anonymous New York Times op-ed author, some officials are pitching extreme methods of sniffing out the snitch, according to a a Thursday New York Times report.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) suggested President Donald Trump make his advisers take a polygraph test, an idea that was at least briefly discussed among administration officials, per the New York Times.

Another idea reportedly knocking around is that senior officials sign affidavits affirming that they did not write the piece, documents that could later be used in court, according to the Times.

Per the New York Times, one outside Trump adviser said that they are currently examining a list of about 12 suspects.

So far, nearly every prominent member of the Trump administration has put out statements disavowing the op-ed or declaring themselves not the author.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. And the aides should all reply in the same professional and mature way the former reality TV show host would:

    “No op-ed! No Collusion! No Obstruction! Witch Hunt! Perjury trap!”

  2. Avatar for gajake gajake says:

    I hear dunking works. The ones who sink are innocent. Floaters learn by twitter that they’ve resigned.

  3. Avatar for jtx jtx says:

    I didn’t know that by working for the President one gave up their freedom of speech.

  4. Yeah, but in exchange you get free parking and the occasional ticket to a Baltimore Orioles game.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

116 more replies

Participants

Avatar for awould Avatar for genomeman Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for theod Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for clearwater Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for esva Avatar for dickweed Avatar for jinnj Avatar for gajake Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for misterneutron Avatar for tsp Avatar for jtx Avatar for michaelryerson Avatar for moderately Avatar for seamus42 Avatar for greenman66 Avatar for atldrew Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for rascal_crone

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: