The White House is leveling “consequences” against Politico over its recent reporting on Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Politico has issued a correction and re-examined multiple articles after the White House threatened “consequences” if the outlet doesn’t retract its recent reporting on President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles, Fox News Digital has confirmed.
In a letter addressed to Politico’s global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger on Monday, White House counsel William Scharf slammed three “demonstrably false and defamatory articles” about Wiles, including claims that Trump was mulling Wiles’ ouster, and that he had a “freakout” when Politico published its story.
“These publications reflect far more than sloppy reporting or an unfortunate, inadvertent reliance on unreliable sources. They instead reveal a disturbing pattern of the publication of sensational falsehoods despite direct, on-the-record refutations from senior White House officials and even the President of the United States himself, as well as documentary evidence provided to Politico, all of which established clearly that claims central to Politico’s planned reporting were false. Put simply, your publication was told the truth and presented with corroborating evidence, and yet chose to publish fanciful fiction regardless,” Scharf wrote in the letter first reported by Axios that has been obtained by Fox News Digital.
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Politico claimed last week that President Trump was mulling replacing Susie Wiles, which the White House said was false. (Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This is not a question of competing interpretations, editorial judgment, or political disagreement. It is a question of whether a major news organization may knowingly publish demonstrably false factual allegations, disregard documentary evidence contradicting those allegations, and then hide behind anonymous sources when confronted with the truth. It may not. I therefore demand that Politico retract these defamatory articles and issue corrections promptly, or face the consequences,” he later continued.
Scharf gave Politico “48 hours” to reverse its reporting and issue an apology to both Trump and Wiles before the White House explores “appropriate and available legal remedies.”
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Scharf gave Politico 48 hours to issue retractions and apologies to President Donald Trump and Susie Wiles. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The White House has no obligation to pretend that this persistent conduct is consistent with responsible journalism. Nor should Politico expect that its institutional behavior will be insulated from scrutiny. After all, freedom of the press is not a professional exemption from accountability,” Scharf told Greenberg.
“I therefore demand that Politico immediately correct or retract these publications, issue a prominent and public apology to the President of the United States and to Ms. Wiles, and remove the false reporting from your digital archives. Failure to do so or otherwise respond justifying Politicoâs publications within 48 hours will prompt an immediate review of Politico’s relationship with the White House, and, of course, consideration of all other appropriate and available legal remedies.”
Politico responded on Wednesday, insisting it strives for accuracy in its reporting and “categorically rejects the false accusations” that it “chose to publish fanciful fiction” and “purposeful falsehoods designed to mislead the public.”
“That said, Politico takes seriously assertions like those made in your letter. Accordingly, consistent with its commitment to ensuring its reporting is as accurate as possible, Politico re-examined all three articles identified in your letter and did follow up reporting,” Politicoâs attorney wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.
“As a result, Politico determined it was appropriate to correct one of the three articles identified in your letter,” the letter continued.
Politico did not offer an apology to Trump and Wiles, or correct the report that Trump was considering moving on from Wiles. Instead, Politico corrected an article to note that Wiles simply offered “positive reinforcement” for then-White House press secretary Katie Zachariaâs Fox News appearance on “Hannity” last week before she stepped down, but did not play a direct role in booking the interview.
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“The updated version of that article, reflecting the information obtained through Politicoâs further reporting, has now been published. Promptly and transparently making corrections, as Politico has done here, is a hallmark of journalistic ethics and integrity, and of the very professionalism your letter falsely claims Politico is lacking,” Politicoâs attorney wrote.
The White House did not immediately respond when asked for comment.
Politico has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration in recent weeks as among the outlets that were banned by the White House last month, which had been reversed by a judge’s ruling.
“To be clear, any error that you could identify in Politicoâs reporting about the President or his administration would not excuse the White Houseâs unconstitutional retaliation and discrimination against Politicoâs for the content of its news coverage,” Politicoâs response said.
“The White Houseâs efforts to retaliate against Politico for its constitutionally protected journalism, and to discriminate against Politico based on what the President perceives to be its editorial viewpoint is a profound affront to the most fundamental constitutional rights,” the response continued. “Politico will defend its journalism and the right of its reporters to pursue their mission and report fearlessly on the President and other White House officials for the benefit of the American public, notwithstanding the White Houseâs ongoing attempts to intimidate Politico and chill and punish that reporting.”
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