Hillary Clinton's press operation has reportedly "blackmailed" reporters by manipulating them into providing flattering coverage in exchange for perks.
The news outlet
Gawker reports it used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain an exchange of emails between Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines and Marc Ambinder, a writer for The Atlantic magazine, that laid out how the process works.
For example, Gawker reports, on July 15, 2009, Ambinder asked Reines for an advance copy of a speech Clinton was to give at the Council on Foreign Relations — and got a three-word reply saying he'd supply the speech — with conditions.
"1) You in your own voice describe them [Clinton's remarks] as 'muscular'" Reines replied, according to Gawker. "2) You note that a look at the CFR seating plan shows that all the envoys … will be arrayed in front of her, which in your own clever way you can say [is] certainly not a coincidence and meant to convey something 3) You don't say you were blackmailed!"
Ambinder — who was given an advance copy — got the speech early enough to scoop rivals.
"It made me uncomfortable then, and it makes me uncomfortable today," Ambinder emails Gawker "And when I look at that email record, it is a reminder to me of why I moved away from all that."
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