Consider bringing back the public advocate you had for a few years. Might save you a ton of headaches.
1
Maybe we need a new official in our society -- the Witness.
Suppose you have been raped -- or defrauded, or fired unjustly, or any of the abuses that normally occur to people who have what they see as good reasons to not report to authorities.
The Witness is not an investigator. It is simply a person in an official capacity whose job it is to take the statement, and note relevant evidence, and record the names of the people involves such as witnesses, other accusers.
All of this is strictly confidential. I can even envision technology allowing the Witness to lock the report in ways nobody can access, not even the Witness, without the person's express permission.
Ms. Carroll's career would have been over had she openly accused Trump. Everybody knows that. He has no right to take that away from her. She should have the power to decide when and how to disclose it.
She does not have the power to decide if we believe her. But this way, we open that possibility.
1
The story was a joke. The accuser described rape as "sexy". This is a disturbed human being.
The media continues to play a double standard. Remember President Clinton’s 24/7 coverage on Paula Jones and other accusers in the early 90s? Why doesn’t Trump get the same treatment from the press and media? Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the corporate media makes so much money from Trump that they are incentivized to keep him in office. There is no such thing as a fair and free press.
4
My hope. or assumption, was that the NYT held off on this story in order to verify, or examine, the claim. I am no fan of Trump (to put it mildly), but to accept this accusation hook, line, and sinker is pushing it. I find it somewhat disingenuous that many reports choose to ignore the bizarre comments she slurred to Anderson Cooper, for instance ("I think most people think of rape as being sexy. Think of the fantasies,” or the fact that she's held off on making these claims until she had a book to publish -- incidentally, a book entitled "What Do We Need Men For?" She also refuses to submit her dress from that night for DNA analysis. In order for a news source to be credible, it needs to present both sides -- legitimately. I want Trump taken down as much as the next sane person, but I cringe at the thought of giving legitimacy to "fake news" or other accusations of biased journalism.
2
Dean Baquet faults the Times' coverage of E. Jean Caroll's allegations against Donald Trump, saying "The fact that a well-known person was making a very public allegation against a sitting president 'should’ve compelled us to play it bigger'."
What does that say about the credibility to be given to an accusation made by a woman who is neither "well-known" or rich?
4
I think that the New York Times should rectify this ‘error in judgement’ by researching and writing an article RIGHT NOW and placing it on the front page as it originally deserved to be. It’s not good enough for the editor to say, oops, we were wrong, shoulda done more. FIX IT NOW. This allegation is an ongoing story and deserves coverage NOW. Enough with the excuses. DO YOUR JOB, NYT! Don’t disappoint your readers in this way.
9
It wasn't just the NYT. Our local Seattle paper ran a small article a few pages inside as well. I wish they knew how resigned and jaded this makes them appear and how disheartening it is to some readers. It's hard to believe what passes for routine these days.
11
I was shocked when I read about this in the Washington Post and when I went to the Times, I found nothing.
And, yes, I have a vivid memory to this day of opening the Times on my breakfast table and seeing yet another story about the Clinton emails along the bottom of the front page. It was an astounding placement for an over worked story.
The problem is not just the excuses you make to us, your readers, but that you may believe them yourselves.
13
Dean Baquet concedes to underplaying the E. Jean Carroll story. Somehow, that does not present itself as stringent self-criticism. It is does not offer more than even a whiff of regret. Heaven forbid this might actually be thought of as a mistake! Man up; if a story does not fit into some amoral professional code of ethics, the problem is not with the story, it is with the code and the people who adhere blindly to it.
9
I am glad the Times chose to wait on reporting this story. I value the Times for choosing caution and adhering to journalistic standards. The last thing we need now is one more partisan news outlet that rushes to print anything that supports their bias -- sadly, the progressive side is becoming as bad as the conservatives in this respect. The Times has a point of view, but I never worry about the basic integrity of the stories the staff chooses to print.
3
@Liz "sadly, the progressive side is becoming as bad as the conservatives in this respect."
An example or two, please?
4
Thank you for acknowledging this. I cannot fathom why this isn’t bigger news. I guess now we’ve just given up paying more attention to women’s accusations because we know Trump or whomever will deny it and it’s all a foregone conclusion.
We learned nothing from MeToo.
15
The Times blew it. Men in power don't even see the bias that prevents them from highlighting this story with the prominence it deserves. You can hide behind editorial and journalistic rationales and admit that you blew it on that level, but you are still missing the big picture. Then men in power at the paper - and the women who have to stay in line with them - are deaf and blind to women's words and experiences. Put some women in real positions of power, let women decide where to put a story about the President raping yet another woman, and see where that story plays.
29
Sexual assault seems to be the one crime where the alleged culprit is assumed to be guilty even if the allege assault occurred 5, 10, 15, or more years ago and there is no evidence, corroboration, or other basic facts required in law to support it. I would have vastly more sympathy for the alleged victims if they had gone to the police or notified someone in authority at the time the event occurred rather than at a much, much later time. It would be as if I claimed that many years ago I had been robbed, but I had no current proof and didn't report the crime when it happened. Who would believe me? Who should?
3
@SB Please read up on why women have not reported rapes in the past. How many rape kits have still not been processed? How many women have not been believed? This is a huge problem, and men know their chances of being caught are slight. Hence it continues. I never told anyone about my version of sexual assault until I was well over 60 years old. No one would have believed a six-year-old in the 1950s.
40
@SB After all that has been written about the way women are treated by the police, the courts, and the public when they report sexual assault and how this treatment suppresses reporting, I find it truly astonishing that you would make this statement.
34
@SB. My sister had the imprint of the barrel of a gun on her cheek. So clear was it that her co-workers knew immediately that something had happened to her over several days when, she ignored their repeated calls. She had been raped by her estranged husband and being held at gunpoint. They took protective action. The police did NOTHING that they were not pushed to do by family and friends. But they collected no evidence at the crime scene, nor did they interview material witnesses. The arresting officer did not want to remove his small arsenal of guns from the home before his release from county detention - my sister's lawyer had to beg for that. Oh, and we are from a prominent family in the community. When people like us cannot get justice against a man with zero social capital, nobody can. This is why women don't report. Like Carroll, my sister still cannot apply the word "rape" to herself.
7
Carroll’s credibility is rooted in the well-regarded and justified view that one ought never to put anything outrageous past Trump. That’s about it at this point however ... and it’s not good enough to do anything with.
1
You need sources outside of those mentioned by the accuser??? Who are those supposed to be - a fly on the wall? Only they know who else they told about the incident or who might have been in the vicinity when it occurred. That's a ridiculously high bar to determine whether an allegation is credible.
32
It all seems so pointless. The cruelty, the sexual humiliation--that is the point of Trump. That is why his base loves him. My heart breaks for Ms. Carroll and all the other women who have been raped and see how Republicans handle this.
26
Trump originated, politically, saying Obama wasn't born in America, and Mexicans are rapists.
Trump's spotlight was born in Weimar Germany, in Russia, in Mitch McConnell's Chinese-bought South. And the Central Park Five, the Pack of Wolves, are innocent, we find, unlike many people serving time that helped sleaze Trump into the office.
Trump seems to be playing his theory that if he walked down Fifth and murdered someone, nothing would happen.
Why would nothing happen? Because it would be a hit job by one of his acolytes, and he would already have set up a distraction for the media..
18
Ms. Carroll was much like a well-known groupie following Motley Crue or Led Zeppelin back in her day. Her cheerleader days are behind her, but she still needs to pay the bills. What better way than to sell a steamy "I Hate Men" book that embellishes 20 alleged sexual assaults - including... THE PRESIDENT! What better way to promote it than to go on CNN and NYT?
NYT was correct to question Carroll and her two anonymous sources. Rolling Stone should have done that prior to publishing its UVA Rape fiasco.
I for one do not believer her stories, but I see how it could make for a good beach read, if you're into that sort of thing.
6
@99percent A "groupie?" That is how you see E. Jean Carroll? I suggest you read more widely. She was named one of the best advice columnists in an article in The Chicago Tribune in 2003 for her work in Elle magazine. She had her own TV show on the network that preceded MSNBC. She was crowned "Miss Indiana University" during her time at that university. She has written 5 books and numerous articles, several of which have been singled out for excellence. She is a fantastic personality, and is completely credible. Go back under your rock.
36
@99percent
Trump dismissed her allegations, saying “she’s not my type,” leaving the unmistakable implication that he WOULD rape a woman who WAS his type, but had 5he temerity to say ‘no’ to him. You know, like Ivana swore to in their divorce proceedings.
29
Sorry, Mr. Baquet. That is not a sufficient explanation or apology.
20
Baquet is never bold or brave. He just isn't. Look at his shying away from having NYT reporters on Maddow or MSNBC. Instead of just doing their jobs, he's constantly monitoring "correctness." By now, that should be ingrained, not something to wring hands about. The same with Carroll. Baquet was too concerned with how it would be received. He's totally cowed by the blowhards in the WH.
17
“He’s totally cowed by the blowhards in the WH.” Are you kidding me?
Dean Baquet is the editor of the most fearless newspaper in the country when it comes to questioning the integrity of #45. I appreciate that the NYTimes and Mr Baquet have the integrity to question their own journalistic standards and publish their analysis that admits their mistakes.
2
the times made the right decision to not promote this story. all i needed to end the story was to watch the claimants interview with Anderson Cooper. I will not accept the instant of fame a person must require to come forward with this kind of meaningless statement. And I do not need to like the President, his policies, or historic misbehaviors to regret another cheapening of values for our country.
Must the times continue to report on Ms Carroll's allegations.
The answer must be NO. The only followup piece should be discussing the psychological needs for Ms Carroll making this allegation so many years and political campaigns of the ?event?
3
@Mike Lewis Yeah, it's worth death threats, your private life being picked apart and being pilloried on social media for "instant fame." You've got to be kidding.
1
Did the word "pathetic" come up? Because it should have. Part of the reason assault is treated as "normal" is because it doesn't get the negative attention it ought to. This is a sitting President and we're closing in on 20 for the number of women accusing him of rape and assault. Do better.
26
One columnist called trump a “common predator.” How accurate. And his supporters and the republicans in congress enable him to continue his predation on the American public.
29
If you don't have a WITNESS, you need EVIDENCE to prove a crime has been committed. If she can't produce either, she could be charged with slander or libel.
You can't go around making unsubstantiated accusations, unless you're the New York Times.
7
@Raz
Were Trump to sue, it would open him up to being deposed under oath, and questioned about all 20 accusers, and the circumstances under which Ivana recanted her under oath that Trump had raped HER.
He might be a crazy narcissist, but somebody’s bound to talk him out of a trap of his own design.
14
@Raz I think what you mean my dear is corroborating evidence. A person’s account of an event, the literal words they speak, is evidence. Whether that alone proves the allegations is another matter. While corroborating evidence, say, of two friends who recall hearing the same story from the accuser 30 years ago, helps bolster the original
accusation, the latter is still evidence. Incidentally, eye witnesses (as I think this is what you mean by WITNESS) are notoriously unreliable and rare in sex assault cases.
3
Why is the alleged rape of E. Jean Carroll not being investigated by police? There is not statute of limitations in the state of New York and Ms. Carroll has made a very public complaint so it should become an active police investigation.
I'm a Canadian. If Justin Trudeau was ever to be accused of rape, (A wildly unlikely event), he would be recused from office to stand trial so fast your head would spin.
After being accused of sexual assault by 15-16? women, Why is Donald Trump still not on trial? How is this not "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" material?
Seriously, even ignoring the blizzard of lies and the obstruction of justice charges in the Mueller report, it appears to this Canadian there is more than enough wrong doing to launch impeachment proceedings.
Or,
Does a majority of Congress think this behavior is tolerable in a president? That justice is determined by putting a finger in the wind?
Wow, how did America drift so far from being a land where the rule of law prevails?
27
@Tom McLachlin
Accusations can be just that, and no more. We don't convict people in the U.S. without evidence or witnesses. Automatically assuming an accuser is telling the truth is irresponsible. Ever heard of someone being framed?...or facts being misrepresented?...or misconstrued?
2
@Matt
Funny, I saw the same interview you did and came to the opposite conclusion.
14
Front page story on Joe Biden's position over 30 years ago. He has shown he has evolved, changed, as every politician with a career path as long as Biden has changed. However, there are recent and old allegations against Trump. They are consistent. They have been buried. Al Franken loses his position over a photo and a few photo shots, and Trump, accused of rape in lawsuits that were dropped, because of threats to the lives of some young women, were not followed up by the Times during the election leading to his Presidency. Jeffrey Epstein? Where did that story go? And you want to attack Joe Biden on the front page? Seriously?
49
@Mockingjay. You’ve got that right. NYT: are you listening?!!
7
@Mockingjay. And George Sater! Where did that story go and why did it take so long.
1
Anyone seen her Anderson Cooper interview? He stammered and had to call a break after she basically said rape is sexy and 'all those fantasies' and then said the thing with Trump wasn't sexual.
Anyway, watch it for yourselves and decide. It's all over the web this evening. This person is something else.
8
Making an accusation doesn't make it true. The Times always assumes the accuser is stating a fact, which isn't always the case...sometimes people lie.
When a woman is raped, the cops usually keep the name of the alleged victim secret, which is good. They should also keep the name of the accused perpetrator secret, as many of these allegations prove unfounded. Both the accuser and the accused need to be protected.
Many of Christine Blasey Ford's claims proved false (not covered by the Times).
7
@Raz do tell us what she said that was PROVEN false. We're waiting. And then tell us your sources.
4
I pointed out to Dean Baquet, in an email conversation, that he was personally responsible for a blatant misquote and that the executive editor of a newspaper should be more responsible than that. He told me that, "I could dare less". I still have the emails for proof. (I also pointed out that it's "couldn't" care less, and an editor should know that...he didn't respond.)
I don't place much credence in what Baquet says.
10
Er...the NY Times might soon decide that their old rules of caution might not be so obsolete after all.
Maybe after somebody notifies them of a Law and Order episode (season 13, episode 11) in which a woman is raped in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room while trying on lingerie. (35 minutes into episode, incident is described). The 'rapist' is set up to think they are acting out a consensual fantasy... and the episode mentions numerous other rape fantasies as well.
Carroll told Anderson Cooper she thinks most people think of rape as being 'sexy,' and that they 'think about the fantasies'. Anderson Cooper was stammering, so bizarre a turn did this interview take, and quickly cut to a commercial from which they never returned.
7
Got some details about the episode wrong (both characters consented to 'rape fantasy' in Bergdor Goodman dressing room on this Law and Order episode).
It could be a very weird coincidence, a false memory, or a number of other things.
But why is this political?
Accusations need to be handled in a fair and serious way, as unbiased as possible. This protects victims, too!
@B.B. Nothing in blurb on L & O S.13 Ep.11. Off-hand comment by minor character; not central to the story? Checked S.11 Ep. 13 as stated elsewhere. Nada. So don't know who wrote the script for this 'fantasy' episode that I can't seem to locate.
The thing is L & O S. 11 & S. 13 were broadcast in 2001 & 2003. Ms. Carroll told her 2 friends about the assault in the mid-1990's.
Try this theory: Ms. Carroll and her friends are all TV/media folks in NYC and even though Ms. Carroll's friends would have protected her privacy you can bet word got around that trump raped a woman in a Bergdorf Goodman lingerie department dressing room. So some script writer hears this story at a cocktail party, tucks it away to use someday. The fact that word of the rape is floating around NY sounds like further proof that it happened.
People don't talk about 'nothing happened'. Innocent people don't seek out 25 year old videotapes as evidence that they didn't do something.
As for the 'rape fantasy' issue . . . why do you think bodice rippers sell so well? They may be called "rape" fantasies but they're really about romance, mutual passion, seduction, not violent crime. A beautiful, successful woman finds a good-looking (her words), successful real estate tycoon flirting with her. They laugh, they joke, they shop. The flirtation continues up the escalator. I imagine she was having fun. I imagine she thought she was safe with him. Until her head slammed against the wall.
2
@Bebe Yes, you're right that it could be a reverse situation where this incident was real and some script writer heard about it and included it in this episode. I had never watched L & O in my life, but when I read about this a couple of days ago I went to my Amazon account to see if by any chance it was available to view for free. It was, so I just located the part where this is discussed, around 35 minutes in. I wonder what the script writer would have to say? If they lifted details from an actual rape story to include in some TV show, would they ever admit it? Because in that case, quite a number of additional people would probably have heard about this, too. A long time ago.
Accusing someone doesn't make it true. People lie, and we have a court system to determine the truth. Automatically assuming an accuser is telling the truth, is irresponsible and immature. Grow up.
4
@Raz 22 women lied? You are the one who needs to grow up.
12
@Raz
In court, they don't consider other cases or accusations, as it should be. In day-to-day life, people sensibly use other standards. Trump has been publicly accused by at least 15 women. He was caught on tape bragging about that exact behavior. Caught on tape. It couldn't be more obvious. Get real.
1
I watched Ms. Carroll’s interview with Anderson Cooper yesterday. Although I have little reason to doubt her accusations of rape against Donald Trump, this whole thing has quickly become a circus, and I regret to say, she didn’t do much to alter my view of the entire spectacle.
We’ve seen countless instances of past boorish behavior on the part of Trump, including his treatment of his first two wives, portrayed in books and the tabloids. Although Trump illustrates very little shame, I don’t see much reason for the Times to lower itself into the mud to further the national embarrassment that is our president has become.
4
@Mark I guess Ms. Carrol's unvalidated accusations and the NY Times failure to investigate thoroughly enough is not an embarrassment to our country?
3
As I read the article and the comments I find it interesting that any accuser of Trump for anything is to be believed and the story printed, front page, no real proof. This one is definitely a he said she said event - even more so because of the time gone by.
When Trump was a celebrity and not the President, we never heard all these things. Once they were out to get him as President we hear of many, many things. But they are all accusations, none of them have been proved out in a courtroom.
The Times should act with caution and at this point shouldn't even write stories wherein the proof remains anonymous.
6
@Arthur Taylor Perhaps in Utah "you never heard all these things". But New Yorkers knew.
16
In October 2016, this paper published the transcript of the Access Hollywood tapes.
trump’s description of his assault on a woman, how he lured her to a remote section of a furniture store where he attempted to force himself on her is a mirror to Ms. Carroll’s description of trump’s attack on her. Talking her into going to a remote area of a store in order to assault Carroll.
And instead of saying he didn’t do it, instead of saying she’s mistaken and he’s sorry for her traumatic experience, he says ‘she’s not his type.’
In other words, ‘Yeah, I do attack women, but she’s not worth my effort.’
To trump, anyone who crosses him is disposable.
27
@LivingWithInterest Please provide a link to this Access Hollywood tapes with the quotes you referenced. I think you have it incorrectly quoted.
1
On CNN Ms. Carroll recounted leaving Bergdorf's with her purse which she remembered vividly because she immediately needed to reach into it for her phone. What year was it? Anachronism alert?
6
Although the I-Phone is roughly 10 years old, the so-called cell (flip) phone reaches back to the early 1990s.
33
@Carol Colitti Levine She says it was '95 or '96. I remember people having mobile phones in '96 and a quick google search shows the Motorola flip phone seen in the movie Clueless was around in '95.
28
@Carol Colitti Levine
I got my first cell phone in 1995 which is 24 years ago.
It was a Motorola flip phone.
27
And...WHY are we talking about this? WHY does this matter?? He IS our President. He has not done anything like this IN the Whitehouse. Am I missing something??
4
@Chris, how do you know he hasn't done anything like this in the White House? I put nothing past him, and there are certainly plenty of good looking women working there, as well as Secret Service folks who would protect his privacy no matter what.
And it matters because it continues to underscore the abject lack of character in this thoroughly incompetent and immoral individual who remains in office because his sycophants, the keepers of our system of checks and balances, refuse to use that system. While his base may not move because of this revelation, an abundance of evidence may help to persuade some folks - perhaps even some Republican senators - that yes, he really is as bad as he seems.
55
@Chris
You’re missing the fact that rape is a traumatic crime and that this is not the first accusation against Trump. His office doesn’t obviate this. Does he have to get up to Cosby numbers for people to care?
61
@Chris
Yes! Quite a lot apparently.
26
Not good enough. Do it right the first time.
52
He said she wouldn't have been his first choice. I've got news for you djt, you wouldn't even be anyones last choice.
28
@Sari
He did it because she refused to do what he asked and laughed at him. We know how angry Trump gets at people who laugh at him.
I am convinced her refusal to wear the lingerie and then her laughing at him triggered his rage.
21
@Sari
He's married...hmmm...maybe you're wrong.
1
The Times needs to reinstate the Ombudsperson position. No one can police themself.
32
The NY Times should keep a ticker on the front page with Trump's number of rape allegations, the same way it tracks his more than 10,000 lies. It's 22, now. How do I know? Wikipedia. Can I have a more reliable source than that? Did we assign that story to anyone at the Times yet?
27
22 rape allegations against a sitting president ought to be enough for the paper of record to do its job and do something it shies away from—investigative reporting!
20
@J gennari Just to be clear, President Trump has not been accused of rape (i.e. sexual battery) 22 times. A lot of the women accused him of groping them and forced kissing. Certainly that behavior is disgusting and warrants attention, but it does not rise to the level of sexual battery. I wish people would be more careful with their language. There is a huge difference between sexual battery and sexual assault/groping.
3
@Jillian
Depends on the state, Jillian.
So what are YOU YOURSELF willing to tolerate, or tolerate happening to your daughters or granddaughters?
You parse the difference between different felonies?
7
Literally on the Times website right now is a featured story with the headline: "A Beauty Queen Accuses a Former Gambian President of Rape." Please explain to me why a headline like that wasn't used for this story? (Famous Writer Accuses President Trump of Rape In The 90s)
47
NYT has given Trump a pass at every given turn. He's a predator to women, a financial fraud, and a criminal. NYT assisted in his climb to the presidency.
42
"Overly cautious" is a generous assessment. I would call it negligent.
The NYT, like the media at large, still does not know how to report on trump. That was very evident when the NYT reported on Barr's summary of the Mueller report as if he reported accurately and without bias what was contained in the report. Trump constantly lies and promotes hate and violence, but the media still reports on his words and actions as if he was an honest and moral president.
The media is partially responsible for trump, and partially responsible for trump being able to get away with his constant lies, fear and hate mongering, bigotry and misogyny.
48
Mr. Baquet, you owe the readers and the American citizens better than this. A mistake has been made RECTIFY it. Please.
26
On the contrary, the Times gave these allegations too much coverage.
Were the accused anyone but a public figure, the allegations would be libelous. Even a minor public figure might win a libel suit.
Moreover, does this add anything to the public perception of Trump? Does it add any facts at all to anything we already know?
What is the benefit of this story? The author of a book called "What Do We Need Men For?" gets publicity for her book release. There are no other benefits whatsoever.
Whatever happened to the Times' journalism standards? Does it all go out the window when Trump is the target?
Now let's look at the downside, beyond whatever loosening of standards this involved.
Trump supporters will use this bogus story as evidence that the Times and others will print any kind of scurrilous unsubstantiated hit job. Are they wrong?
6
@Wolf
Where is the evidence it's a bogus story? That's just another opinion.
9
I came to this article via the email “In Her Own Words.“ The number one lesson I get from that weekly email is that the New York Times has been on the wrong side of so, so many stories and issues throughout its history. This burying of Trump’s latest rape accusation just seems to continue that history.
33
If the CEO of a major American company was confronted by this allegation by this prominent female journalist his career would be over. Why does Trump get some kind of immunity because he has been accused of similar behavior by multiple women over the last three decades? It seems that many Americans view this behavior as just Trump being Trump.An American President is a serial liar and a serial sexual predator and may get re-elected. What is going on? What am I missing?
36
@Milton Lewis
You need to discern the difference's between hear say and facts and or constant repeating of in accurate statements.
Such as your own paragraph.
One simply has to wonder how the Donald "met" each of his 3 wives.
15
No room on the front page? Of course! There was that breaking story about the Clintons never rewinding the videotapes they returned to Blockbuster.
35
Shouldn’t Trump’s response be, “I would never do such a thing,“ rather than, “She’s not my type”? We’ve travelled so far down this slippery slope (of a farcical leadership), I pray there’s a means to turn back. Please vote, everyone.
37
The Times is contradicting itself. On the one hand, you say you need corroborating witnesses which you didn't obtain. But you then say you should have published more prominently despite your rules about these things. Your original policy seems right. Mr. Baquet should have deferred to the original decision on how it was handled.
9
The accuser in this case not only made allegations against the president, but accused at least 20 other men of sexually assaulting her on different occasions - https://www.thecut.com/2019/06/donald-trump-assault-e-jean-carroll-other-hideous-men.html .
Is it possible for someone to be struck by lightning 21 times in their life? Yes, it is possible. However, is it probable that the same person will be struck by lightning 21 different times in their life? No, that is highly statistically unlikely.
The same applies to this case.
11
@Eternal Tech
Bizarre comparison.
Yes its perfectly possible to be sexually assaulted 21 times in your life.
Try going to a music festival in Australia in the 80s...
or likely anywhere else...and the myriad of other opportunities men avail themselves of.
26
@Eternal Tech
I didn't know that groping and unwanted touching was sexual assault nor did my mother until my daughter informed us. We told her that we had never been "really" assaulted. When I learned that groping, being pushed against walls, and being forcibly kissed was considered assault, I was genuinely surprised. I knew those things were unpleasant, but I was so accustomed to boorish behavior growing up in NYC that I just thought--well, honestly I didn't really think about it much. Do you know what is was like for a young girl taking the subway to school in the 1980s? Men would pull out their penises, rub up against you, follow you. You have NO IDEA.
41
@Kay
No, of course he doesnt. He speaks from pure ignorance and smugness.
8
How can you call verification from two people who do not want their names mentioned valid. The fact that it's a prominent person doesn't mean it's a valid accusation. Nowhere in your article describing the investigation or verification did I see or read any evidence of the same. It's all layered on he said she said. Gee Whiz you guys are nuts..
9
@Allan The allegation appears in a published book. Do you think for a minute that the publisher's attorneys didn't vet it, to cover their own liability?
32
@Marya Dantzer. Well Marya, if they did vet it, then state so. Otherwise they are guilty of defamation of character also.
Both witnesses have come forward and identified themselves in Today’s NYT podcast.
3
I agree with the reasoning of the Times and Ms. Takenaga, for not inflating the latest reprehensible sexual assault accusations of the President above and beyond the daily national and international outrages his administration is confronting our Country with every day. It has become very apparent that the Media, too often, by jumping on the latest of salacious accusations, propelling them out of proportion to their impact, tends to deny the attention to issues that will generate widespread responses and actions that will help to bring this administrations tenure to an end.
Thank you for your journalistic leadership.
G. Hughes
Larkspur, Ca.
10
@ G Hughs
This is more than just an alleged story. It is about a very well known writer and advice columnist, E Jean Carroll. She has a large following of readers and I’ve admired her for at least 20 years. When I read E Jeans eloquent, heartbreaking article in New York Magazine I was floored. She’s one of my literary heroes. Respect
41
@Lambnoe
Quote" As it turns out, a Hideous Man marks practically every stage of my life."
Maybe there's a pattern here of why her life is filled with so many men that are Hideous?
@Allan
maybe there’s a pattern of bad behavior on the part of many men.
8
This is how WE handle it with our heads totally out of the sand: Things that are meant to smear other people, as an attempt to either slander them through a public smear or to gain an advantage by using such a tactic to lessen their chances of getting elected/reelected when seeking/holding public office is one thing. But coming out of the "woodwork" after many decades to ride this ugly horse is unquestionably a criminal act in itself. There should be NONE of this rampant anger tirade by women attempting to do injustice to men decades after fabricated lies about any supposed sexual flirtation. Get OVER it, and outlaw these actions. Outlaw these people from smearing others for their own gain after years and years of waiting for the slander to do its most harm. We do NOT return to our posts.
7
"Sexual flirtation"? What Ms. Carroll described was first-degree rape!
37
@Charles you are a prime example of why the times was cautious and correct in its handling of this story. Here is why we shouldn't just believe someone without research or caring to facts.
Here is the definition of first degree rape and this story meets none of it. Your lack of intellect and surge of emotion without care for credibility is what is going to sink the left during the next election. I sit right in the middle. I see both extremes and I see what is coming.
And here is the definition you falsely define as 1st degree:
1) A person is guilty of rape in the first degree when such person engages in sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion where the perpetrator or an accessory:
(a) Uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon or what appears to be a deadly weapon; or
(b) Kidnaps the victim; or
(c) Inflicts serious physical injury, including but not limited to physical injury which renders the victim unconscious; or
(d) Feloniously enters into the building or vehicle where the victim is situated.
5
It is good NYT that you "revisited" your "handling" of Ms. Carroll's rape by Trump. I'm disappointed the best you came up with is you were "overly cautious." Overly cautious or a conscious, willful decision to bury the lead. It appears the latter. The question is why. NYT needs to step up their coverage of two stories now - Ms. Carroll's allegation and NYT decision to not fully cover it.
25
So many conflicting feelings reading about E. Jean. I knew E. Jean back at my days at NBC, and I worked with both Donald Trump and E. Jean in corporate marketing. I worked on promoting his show and hers while at America's Talking, where she was the host of a call-in show. I like her personally. I like her humor, her deadpan, she was nice. But this isn't about nice this is about fact and balance and truth.
Since I know both on a personal level- and have spent alot of time I just have to say this...it was depressing reading her coming out with this. It's a career harpoon on a career that has become increasingly irrelevant as time passes. My heart hurts for her. I am sure her publisher said if you want us to publish and promote, give us some sauce.
Here's the awful truth. She isn't his type. I saw and worked with his type. I watched him operate from a front row seat. She's not.
What she is and was was flirty with men in a weird way, in a way that gave away all her power, yet was forceful in intent. Like a flirty puppy? Something like that. Do I feel like she invited him into that dressing room with intent to mess around with him? Of course I do. Do I think she did it as a wild adventure and probably with only an idea of what it could possibly bring her down the road with connections? Of course. Does that imply consent?
Does it? Yes. Was her a bad decision with her own complicity? Its embarrassing and it breaks down legitimate rape and assault. It's sad.
14
@Cathy
She is an attractive woman and looked beautiful in the picture with Trump from years ago. But rape is about power and humiliation. His comment, repeated for many of the women that have accused him, is so incredibly disgusting and your support of it is really sad.
30
@Cathy So our president only rapes women who ARE his type?
44
@Janice. You are basing your entire judgement on one photo an event photographer took that is of a partially blocked head. That's all you know- in your response to me that's all your evidence. If your narrative is so strong in bias that would negate my own experiences with each of them and their own flaws, THAT is sad.
A general deference to Trump’s transgressions has developed. The true “fake news” problem is that the media has overreacted to Trump’s false “fake news “ allegations.
It’s tiresome to remain outraged, especially as Trump skillfully continues his lifelong pattern of never suffering consequences for his disgraceful and illegal behavior. But, on November 3, 2020, let’s be sure our memories are sharp.
25
So the excuse for underplaying the story was that you were simply reporting on a first-person account of a sexual assault survivor, who gave contemporaneous accounts to two other people? Come on, NYT. You're caving into, and therefore backdoor endorsing, this reprehensible behavior by the president that must be called out.
20
The NYT is not alone here. None of the Sunday morning news shows discussed this. The question is why? But the Booker/Biden back and forth continued even after both parties had spoken and presumably ironed it out between them.
I can't imagine any other time in history when a story like this wouldn't jam news outlets everywhere.
What all of you need to be asking is what Mika Brezinski asked on Morning Joe: "What type of woman would you rape Mr. President?" And you need to ask it until you get him to tell you...because knowing him, he will.
33
This comment is slightly disingenuous and certainly self-aggrandizing: "He pointed out that The Times had written some of the earliest stories about Mr. Trump’s alleged abuse of women, and that its coverage of Harvey Weinstein helped spark the #MeToo movement."
The coverage of Harvey Weinstein that initiated the #MeToo movement was the direct result of Ronan Farrow's reporting for The New Yorker. I'm sorry but the New York Times followed entirely in his wake. As another commenter noted elsewhere, please get out of the habit of taking credit that you didn't earn.
25
@BLG
As another commenter noted elsewhere, please get out of the habit of taking credit that you didn't earn.
Isn’t that what trump does all the time?
I’m beginning to connect the dots, now.
5
It’s over. I’ve given up . Too late, too old to move to Ireland. We have lost our country and there is NO way of getting it back with Trump. We’re all in total denial, folks.
23
I tend to agree with the others here who have commented that Mr. Baquet may be a tad too sensitive to the criticism with regard to how the Times handled this story. In light of the fact that the 'incident' was already in the public domain, the editor's initial decision might better be viewed as measured and that when reported in this newspaper it was given the correct weight and placement in both the print and internet editions. The migrant children's plight, the near-stalemate in Congress, and the abysmal behavior of the Saudi Crown Prince - including his countries continuing actions which have precipitated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen - far outweigh the president's alleged beastly behavior in the women's dressing room of a department store with Ms. Carroll, behavior which appears to be in keeping with other incidents of like kind which have been previously reported. Mr. Baquet would be well advised to continue to follow his editorial instincts.
2
I can only imagine how this story would be handled if it claimed that Bill Clinton had committed this act. There is less evidence of the claim by Juanita Broadrick that she was raped and yet it has become accepted wisdom by both writers and subscribers to the Times. Ross Douthat would have written an essay decrying sybaritic modernity, if it had been Clinton. It seems that the good Christian conservatives who want to tell women what they can and can't do with their reproductive rights simply have no problem that their leader is a rapist. I recall that during the Lewinsky matter it was often said that Clinton had no shame, now we know what it really means to have no shame.
38
NY and the NYT helped to inflict Trump upon the US and the world.
They should have an exceptionally urgent responsibility to catalog Trump’s sins as a form of expiation of their own sins.
NY is the ORIGINAL Trump Country—thanks NY!
15
@Andrew
TRUMPS VOTE TOTAL IN NYC & SUBURBS WAS SOMETHING LIKE 20%. The rest of the country should have taken note of this. Only a small percentage of New Yorkers are Trump supporters.
6
Can the damage by not covering this properly be undone? I mean over a dozen women have credibly stated Trump has sexually assaulted them. Maybe a front page, indepth article covering the entire scope of all allegations is warranted at this point?
23
When other entities had individuals engaging in inappropriate behavior towards women, they hired outside law firms to investigate claims.
When the NYT had claims of inappropriate behavior towards women colleagues from a male reporter, the NYT did an "inhouse" investigation.
There is a problem at the NYT. It extends beyond cautious reporting in E. Jean Carroll's case.
It's how the paper does/doesn't value women.
An apology to E. Jean Carroll would be a start.
29
'Sources outside those mentioned by the accusers'...let's see, if the Times wanted outside sources then all you needed to do was look at the Access Hollywood tape when Trump tells the world that he can do anything he wishes to women 'even grab them by their private parts'. Ms. Carroll suffered a rape, a first degree rape, according to a renowned NY prosecutor. That is what is important here. Ms. Carroll was raped by Trump, a man who was previously accused of rape by his first wife, Ivana, although she recanted when he became president. Yesterday Trump told The Hill 'she is not my type' when speaking of Ms. Carroll. A type for rape? Enough said.
20
Why is the headline today about Trump's denial -- rather than the accusation itself? Trumps denial is not the news -- he denies EVERYTHING negative said about him. The headline is"A Journalist and Writer Credibly Accuses The United States President of Rape." The woman's perspective and story is the news, not the male perspective and denial. Come on New York Times! Please do better!
31
@Michelle H
That's why we love him
1
The Times made the right call on this. It's going to die in a matter of I am guessing, a day or two. It all depends on the weight of the publishing house's publicity team and as such, should be regarded as promotional in nature. Not news.
11
@Cathy
"It all depends on the weight of the publishing house's publicity team and as such, should be regarded as promotional in nature. Not news."
The idea of a 'publicity team' coordinating a promotional campaign around a rape accusation -- of the president of the United States -- is even more disturbing than the belief that an author, whose career was in large part built on counseling honesty, would concoct it as a scheme to sell books.
13
@Cathy Let me get this straight. Alleged rape, by the sitting President of the United States is promotional in nature?
16
@Cathy "Not news"? I agree.
The old saying is still true: "If a dog bites a man, it's not news. If a man bites a dog, it's news."
Trump has by now been credibly accused by so many women that everyone in America knows he has attempted assault many times, as he bragged on the famous tape to Billy Bush.
What is this? The 76th time a woman has come forward to accuse Trump of sexual assault or harassment?
When Trump accuses a woman of raping him, *that* will be news.
8
i think this story got the exact correct treatment from the outset and Baquet did not need to fall on his sword. The event which i believe took place happened too long ago and is in character of the accused behavior. The accusation is not actionable and while it adds to the melange of examples of bad behavior by Trump is not noteworthily different from his other transgressions. It deserves a story and it got an appropropriately placed one.
4
Oh, to have the public editor back at a time like this!
45
@marion dee Absolutely! Some copy editors would be helpful, too. NYT has a sexism problem. And pushing Big Pharma medical treatments with their many side effects is another sore issue, especially when 80% utilize alternatives. Healthcare is not one-size-fits-all. It is sad to see MDs and activists dismissed/trashed without doing due diligence of the facts. The public has a right to know the complete facts.
I believe E. Jean Carroll. No wonder she waited 23 years to share what happened to her.
14
Boy am I a sap. I have spent the last two years valiantly defending the Times on blogs and message boards against its liberal critics. Sure, the Hillary emails were overplayed, but her behavior was newsworthy. The headline about the FBI investigation into the Trump campaign's connections with Russia was misleading, but the underlying story was accurate. The coverage of the release of the Mueller report was far too generous to President Trump, but how was the Times to know that the attorney general was a lying political hack?
But the deliberate burial of a credible rape allegation against the President? This cannot be excused. When the history of this sordid period is written, the Times will rightly be portrayed as a collaborator.
117
@WMB Not one thing about this accusation IS credible and to call someone credible just because they say something happened - without looking at facts and really knowing, it just takes away all power from real victims WITH. For you to pretty much say that anyone who comes forward and accuses is legitimate despite any evidence really is terrible. It's terrible for the people who are actual assault victims.
Where is the credibility in this claim? I am listening. The claims of a publishing house that says we're not interested unless you give us something to promote/
6
@Cathy
The credibility comes straight from the accused. His visceral reaction was “she’s not my type.” So...what type of woman who had rebuffed him MIGHT he rape? Then there’s the Access Hollywood tape, where he describes continuing pursuit of a married woman who had tried to rebuff him.
His first wife accused him of a violent rape, under oath, that he bought his way out of, exchanging a lot of money for her recantation and an NDA.
He admitted barging unannounced into the dressing room of the Miss Universe pageant, and the dressing room of the Miss TEEN Universe pageant, too.
What are YOU YOURSELF willing to tolerate from him?
8
@WMB One problem is assuming that since the NYT is a liberal publication it is also pro-feminist. It’s often not, and their treatment of this serious allegation by E. Jean Carroll (their excuse is that it was mentioned in the Book Review section? Really.) is a perfect example.
2
Imagine how long this story would have been on the NYT front page if Carroll had accused Biden instead of Trump. Another epic fail - and by the way, not having the story as a scoop doesn't excuse you from doing your job as a paper of record. Do better.
212
The Times should put this story on the front page.
Jean Carroll is a very important figure, she gives a very important perspective to the #MeToo movement.
Shel said she would not bring rape or sexual assault charges against President Trump because such an action would be disrespectful to migrant women being raped at the U.S.-Mexico border. This can't be ignored.
62
I had a flip phone in the 90's also....but that is not the point of this. The point is that the person in the White House is an accused rapist as well as a liar. The latest thing that I heard him say is that if he decides to bomb Iran, he will not go to Congress for permission. He claims that is not necessary. He thinks he was elected "King" He deserves to be impeached and removed from office, before he causes another war.
87
I'm not sure I understand this reasoning. It wasn't your own scoop so it got swept to the back pages? It was a graphic account of rape corroborated by her friends at the time and your response was "Ehh. It's not our scoop." How many sources do you expect to find for something that happened in a private dressing room 20 years ago? Can't you still publish the story in a prominent place, simply noting that your own reporters cannot find additional corroborating sources at this time? Just such poor journalism.
119
You are dead right Mr Bacquet, that "The fact that a well-known person was making a very public allegation against a sitting president “should’ve compelled us to play it bigger.” The two friends who request anonymity corroborate Mr Carroll's allegations - surely this is enough? How much more corroboration can be provided given the nature of the alleged attack? Have we simply forgotten that this kind of behaviour is utterly unacceptable from any man, let alone the President of the USA, and every allegation about our president requires our full attention - and through our most trusted news sources?
84
Well this seems very gutless.
Meanwhile the Guardian has been running the story of our prospective PM, evil twin number 2, having a screaming match/ potential DV issue, as the headline of their website.
And this is next to the header on their US edition.
But how could anyone forget how you enabled Trumps win.
Thats really helped us in the UK/EU by the way, and given us Steve Bannon too.
Really ,thanks, you have been soo helpful :(
58
I too was wondering why you were deferring to trump. Please do not mess something like this up again. You did a great disservice to women..
97
I think it would be great if more women at this particular moment of the #MeToo movement were similarly considerate as Ms. Carroll who said in her interview that she would not bring rape or sexual assault charges against President Trump because such an action would be disrespectful to migrant women being raped at the U.S.-Mexico border.
5
@areader
Why? Because other women are being raped, a woman who is richer and whiter shouldn't bring charges because she was also raped? How many ways can people find to discourage women from holding their assailants accountable? Rape is a serious crime and should never go unreported. I suspect the real reason Carroll won't bring charges is because she knows they are unchargeable -- the statute of limitations on rape still holds in NY on rapes that had passed that limitation before the law went into effect.
16
@Francesca
The fact that she kept the dress throughout the years implies, at least to me, that Ms. Carroll never decided not to report it.
4
A POTUS was credibly accused of rape and it didn’t even make the front page. Trump has normalised it - rape - and the NYT helped him do that.
Trump has normalised so many other unthinkable notions: defending white supremacists, hiring his children, not divesting his of conflicts of interest, not releasing his tax returns, sacking his FBI chief, defying Congressional subpoenas, insulting allies, flattering murderous dictators, releasing an ally’s most valuable spy secret to the Russians, lying every single day ...
Trump began his presidency by loudly insisting that his obviously modest inauguration audience was the biggest in history. He made it the subject of the first WH press briefing of his term. He reportedly spent his first morning if office demanding photos and crowd size estimates from every involved agency.
It might have seemed like a trivial matter, but it wasn’t.
It was profoundly prophetic. That morning Trump tested the boundaries of truth and found he could mow them down as easily in office as he did in private life.
Journalists and editors still haven’t worked out how to adjust to this new era of mutable reality. They need to, fast.
Trump is now normalising an extended term. Most people are laughing this off.
TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.
The NYT needs to be working out right now how they’re going to prevent Trump from normalising his President-for-life dream, because that project is already underway.
Or shall we just brush that off as unthinkable?
232
@CJinOz Got to love that TDS.
1
@jim thank you for one of the best comments I have read in the last two years.
7
Speak truth to power. What good is the free press (and the NYT) if journalism defers from shining a light on the dark doings of elected officials (including the president of the USA). There is an obvious derelict pattern based on past accusations, why isn't someone putting the pieces together and reporting on it?
27
Carroll was unglued on Anderson Cooper's program tonight - suggesting that "most people" think of rape as fantasy or sexy. This will get zero coverage in the NYT or the WaPo, of course.
Carroll waited until she published a book to detail these allegations. Why? Is she using this as a way to drive sales? That should be weighed alongside the troublesome assault allegations.
13
@Ryan M
Aside from the fact that this revelation is part of a long-standing, self-admitted ("when you're rich and famous, you can do anything to women") pattern, why would you doubt this story for one second? The U.S. has a sexual offender in the White House. Forget impeachment, send him to jail.
14
@Ryan M
Or perhaps, Ryan, she wrote the book, in part, to expose this attack? Are you suggesting that she's lying, or that you are unhappy with her timing because book sales might benefit?
If you don't think she's lying, then who cares about the timing? She disclosed when she was ready to disclose. The attack is an attack nonetheless; attending to her demeanor on television or her potential book sales instead of the attack by the president is despicable.
12
@Ryan M
Only a man who did not read anything she had to say would conflate rape with book sales.
Unglued - have you ever been raped or sexually assaulted?
It UNGLUES you forever.
I feel sorry for the women in your life.
22
But besides that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
7
I don't buy it. If the headline were Obama, you'd have every reporter interviewing everybody who knew them then, knows them now, worked at Bergdorf's, worked for him, etc. And the entire former GOP in Congress would be shrieking like mandrakes and impeachment would be no matter of endless hand-wringing and intellectual debate.
You guys caved.
111
Some news organizations provide more information about Jean Carroll's accusations.
"I think most people think of rape as being sexy," Carroll said in an interview Monday with Cooper, during a discussion of her rape allegation against President Trump. "They think of the fantasies."
Cooper had asked Carroll if she felt like she was a victim.
"I was not thrown on the ground and ravaged," Carroll said, denying that she was a victim. "The rape carries so many sexual connotations. This was not sexual. It just hurt."
Carroll described the alleged event between Trump and her as a "fight" rather than "rape."
9
@areader My impression of E. Jean Carroll's tv interviews is she still cannot believe what happened to her and may even blame herself because she went with Trump into the dressing room. She is a victim of rape by Trump. She is an ongoing victim of old style thinking such as, 'what were you wearing', 'did you entice him', the Times readers of advanced age (such as Carroll is) has heard all of those type of remarks for years because it was always the woman's fault, never the man's when a woman was raped or abused. Rape is a crime and in NY there is no time limit for reporting rape. Also, the coat dress she was wearing may still provide evidence of the crime.
11
@areader I think you took her comments out of context.
@areader: It was both a fight and a rape. He penetrated her with finger and male member and she fought back and got away. Somehow, I believe, her mind would not accept that she had been raped. But she was.
10
The decision by the Times seems to be that just one more woman has accused the President of assaulting her. So what else is new?
As a nation we have become numb to how we, as citizens, are assaulted regularly by this president, who colludes with the Russians to help with his election and has vowed to do the same in the future; asks aides and lawyers alike to lie for the official presidential records; tells everyone he knows -- and probably some he doesn't -- not to appear for questioning by Congress or turn over any records; and puts babies and small children in cages where they are denied even soap and a blanket to sleep with. And then he sends in a lawyer to defend that decision in court.
Meanwhile, the Democrats refuse to act or hold him in anyway accountable. And Pelosi prays.
I have no doubt that Trump assaulted Ms Carroll, but it appears no one else really cares. The Times asserts that that's not really "news," as the Trump administration continues to assault us all.
51
@avrds Well said. It is amazing to me how much time was spent on Biden's talking about trying to work with segregationists and using the word boy, and how little time was spent on a rape accusation. Biden isn't a racist but it does seem highly likely that Trump is a racist..
12
@avrds Remember that the Democrats have no control over the Senate, so you cannot blame the Democrats for refusing to act or hold Trump accountable. The responsibility is solely on the shoulders of the Republicans, who not only turn a blind eye, but support him in a Faustian deal to get everything they have always wanted, and do not want to lose their power. They have the evangelicals in their pocket, and will do everything to keep their position of power. Republicans are to blame, they hold the majority in the Senate.
3
This feels like only part of the story. Who decided to downplay it? Did anyone disagree with the decision? For allegations of crimes against women, is there input by someone tasked with diversity issues? If not, why not?
I’m a longtime subscriber, and I’ve never felt more let down by the New York Times than now. The message from this episode? An alleged serious crime perpetrated simply because the victim was a woman, by our president - isn’t newsworthy. Can anyone think of any other physical crime against a person that is so roundly downplayed as sexual assault? If the president had merely hit another man, it would get nonstop coverage.
73
@Laura B I, too, am a longtime subscriber and I completely agree with you that I have never felt more let down by the New York Times than now. I just subscribed to the Washington Post! Online, but still. Now I am considering cancelling my NYT subscription.
6
"Hey, listen, if I were going to poke somebody in the underwear dressing room, not that I would, I would never do it to her, especially since we've never met, and she's not my type, anyway, and I know it never happened even though I wasn't there, and the dog ate my homework."
17
The accuser cannot remember in what year the alleged assault took place. She did not file criminal or civil charges against Trump then or in the twenty or so years after. There were no witnesses to the alleged assault.
This all sounds very phony to me and a ploy to sell Ms. Carroll’s book.
6
@Mon Ray
Really? As if this episode is the very first you've read about how the current president is a sex offender? Have you forgotten he admitted as much himself: "When you're rich and famous, you can do anything to a woman."
Forget impeachment. Send this sex offender to jail.
10
@Mon Ray
Most women don’t report rape. I’ve seen statistics suggesting 90%. I’ll bet you know a few women who didn’t and who maybe never told anyone but a close friend. Most rapes do not have witnesses.
4
I’ve been sensing a great deal of more sympathy for President Trump in New York Times reporting in recent months. Finally I’m starting to agree with the President about fake news.
14
Whatever is going on on this pre-publication allegation story, I can't help but be struck that in this decaying society there is often what seems to be moral outrage in a social environment increasingly without morals. But have you noticed that virtuous men and women get no respect for being virtuous? Nonvirtuousity seems to be okay for many as long as there is proper consent.
10
This is not an aberration. Trump regularly defeats the hisher purpose of the free press. It is now the, so called, free press that is being challenged and called to account by Trump. Our bulwark institutions are are slip slidin away.
22
Two points:
1. Trump's supporters will never believe this story.
2. Even if it's true, his supporters simply don't care.
I think the Times gave this story the attention it deserved. Namely, report the allegations and let their readers decide. I personally believe the story is completely in character with Trump's behavior...
15
@Dersh Love the irony there. You know all about what Trump supporters think and you believe her account. And the reason you believe her account is it's in keeping with Trump. The fact he's never been convicted of rape, or forced sex I guess is not part of your thinking. What do Trump supporters think of Bill Clinton? And how do you generally form conclusions? Apparently not via an assembly of facts. I find it discouraging to understand that the presumption of innocence on the left seems to have vanished simultantaneosly as they accuse the right of 'shredding the Constitution" and are worried about various rights being eroded. I am not a Trump supporter but I doubt this woman's account, because she also claims Les Moonves did the same thing and forgot to bring it up when Trump was running for office -but also because as a journalist and one who understands that Trump was worth money- she had lots of reasons to accuse him back in the 90's and the vehicle to do it with. I need evidence- regardless who is accused. It applies to young black men and to Donald Trump.
5
@Dersh I didn't support Trump and do not believe this "story." Why not report on something that there is some proof it happened. What kind of a society do we live in if we can accuse anyone of anything??? Not one I want to live in.
2
@Chris
Oh, really? And what happened at the Kavanaugh hearings to the woman who stepped forward? Disbelieved, humiliated.
Proof???? Do you need to see bruises and a blood-stained pair of panties? And do you know what would have happened even if she had reported the attack back then? Absolutely nothing! Absent blood, she would have been disbelieved -- and probably blamed for bringing it on herself.
10
Jean Carroll also had an interview with Charlie Rose where she talked about being hunted by men and how she believed she could change the past.
4
@areader
The ideal interviewer for her story.
3
I believe every word Ms. Carroll wrote however I am completely and utterly annoyed with her for not speaking up during the 2016 election and waiting until now.
I believe her, it doesn't surprise me and I am so angry.
51
@Deirdre I am sorry you are "completely and utterly annoyed with her for not speaking up during the 2016 election and waiting until now. "
Just imagine what The Times headlines might have been if she had come forward then:
"Two Women Say Donald Trump Touched Them Inappropriately," https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html
"A 10th Woman Accuses Donald Trump of Inappropriate Touching," https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html
Magazines like The Atlantic would have published Trump-destroying articles if E. Jean Carroll's story had been known: "The 19 Women Who Accused President Trump of Sexual Misconduct" https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/12/what-about-the-19-women-who-accused-trump/547724/
She could have surely changed history had she come forward earlier. Your complete and utter annoyance with her is well-deserved.
2
For crying out loud! Then play it bigger! It has only been three days. It is still news.
87
After reading E. Jean Carroll's essay in NEW YORK, I went looking for the TIME's coverage of the story and was dismayed that it required performing an article search to find it online. This "Bulletin Board" piece is itself tepid, indirect, and in the words of editor Baquet "overly cautious." Carroll's allegations are horrifying and, if accurate, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is a rapist. If the TIMES has underplayed her allegations because it does not believe her story, then it owes readers an investigation to explain why her story is not credible. "Yawn, another assault allegation against Trump" or "40% of Americans will not believe her story no matter what" are NOT excuses to bury this story. If her allegations are credible, in the form she has had the courage to come forward with, the TIMES should have the courage to bring the full force of its influence to bear in making this story front page, above the fold, urgent news.
119
@Greg Bills
You stated, "If her allegations are credible..."?
How are we to determine if her allegations are credible without evidence? If she has evidence that she has not yet presented, let her release this evidence to prove Trump's and the other men's guilt.
1
@Eternal Tech
Testimony from the two friends whom she told at the time is evidence.
21
Ms. Carroll has explained herself, she said in her interview she would not bring rape or sexual assault charges against President Trump because such an action would be disrespectful to migrant women being raped at the U.S.-Mexico border.
7
@areader As the Times mentioned at the end of their story, the statute of limitation has run out on this allegation.
More details in Mother Jones.
The gist: in the mid-90's the statute of limitations for this type of assault was five years. In 2006 that limit was erased, but NOT retroactively. So a 1997 crime would have lapsed in 2002.
But her stated reason is more impressive.
4
@areader,
That's a very thoughtful #metoo statement.
Trump denies knowing Ms Carroll, yet in the story is photographic evidence he is lying.
I see no mention of that here. Will you be investigating the President's* continued abject inability to tell the truth, ever?
94
Do you think any public figure “knows” every person with whom they’ve been photographed?
1
@Nunyya
Oh there will be a lot more than a picture, I am 100% certain there will be more coming out...directly proportional to the reaction of the rogue con artist's shysters that will have the sky's limit spenditure muzzling the truth. The Trumptard way of life.
8
What does Trump mean-- "She's not my type"? Is there a particular look or personality trait of the women that that Trump chooses to sexually assault? Or is he just a situational sex offender that takes advantage of women who are in places where it is difficult for them to defend themselves? His denials ring so hollow.
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@David B.
She’s also not the first tall, blonde senior journalist to claim Trump sexually assaulted her, and in remarkably similar fashion, although it didn’t go as far.
So yes, it looks like she is his ‘type’.
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@David B.
As if rape were about love or even attraction, not power.
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@David B. Good point. "She's not my type." meaning "I only assault women who are my type." He outed himself with this comment.
10
More than 20 women have accused Trump of sexual harassment or abuse.
Trump claims that every last one of them is lying.
He has hundreds of lawyers at his beck and call ready to do his bidding, many of them paid for him by donors and Republican sources.
Why doesn’t he sue them for slander if only to put Melania’s mind at ease?
I know I would.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/6/21/18701098/trump-accusers-sexual-assault-rape-e-jean-carroll
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Now if she’d had a private email server . . .
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She allegedly made a police report at the time of the incident. Can't any of your "journalists" even verify or find that? It would be sufficient proof for most people.
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This analysis seems very inadequate. For one thing, it never acknowledges that the story was covered in the *books* section -- not as a news item at all.
It's incredible that readers who get their news primarily from the NY Times and don't happen to read the Books section would not even know that the president is credibly accused of rape.
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@ Elizabeth
You are so right. Immediately after reading the New York article I skimmed the NYTimes and was surprised that the story was a blip. I expect more as a reader and a subscriber. How about a nice, in depth article about E Jean Carroll. She’s an advice icon to Elle Magazine readers but that’s a ladies magazine so ya know.
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Didn't Ms, Carroll mention around 30 men in her article??
Some of the anecdotes were more interesting and included bigger names but I guess the President of the United States gets top billing.
Just like our Press gave President Kennedy when he snuck girls in the back door of the White House. Oops -- our reporters back then respected the office of the President and we didn't find out until after he was gone. I guess their editors weren't pressured into National Enquirer reporting to sell papers.
But yeah, all the guys in Ms. Carroll's tales were true sleazes. She deserved better!
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This is underwhelming response and truly disappointing as I am such a fan of your reporting normally.
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@Kate: Have you ever seen the Times respond to criticism in a truly thoughtful way? There's always something defensive and even patronizing in their response to readers. Like, we're only doing this to go through the motions.
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@Lisa Well said.
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This unfortunately isn't anything new in regards to Trump and the only newsworthy element is how impervious this administration is to such accusations. In fact, one has to question why Ms. Carroll would subject herself to the onslaught she will surely face from Trump the Women Jumper and his apologists. Could it be that she has solid proof of the crime to reveal after we've heard all the vehement denials? Catch and kill from the Enquirer? Or even more fittingly, the DNA type testimony that did in Bill Clinton?
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The reality is some of the press feel guilt for attacking and piling on Hillary about the Emails. Also, even though they liked Bill Clinton, the stories from the women who accused him of all acts up to and including rape were too good a story to play down. Now with Trump, there's a feeling they gave him too many hours in the run-up to 2016. Knowing there's no real traction in this story except reinforcing either side's narrative the Times is shying away too soon.
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If at first you don't succeed...
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https://twitter.com/jamisonfoser/status/1143269235092623360
"If there’s anything the New York Times is known for, it’s handling explosive new developments about prominent politicians with an abundance of caution."
I love The New York Times, and I'm glad Mr. Sulzberger seems to have realized--and since I'd emailed this to him a while ago, he should have paid attention--that this administration hopes to destroy freedom of the press in general and his newspaper in particular. But The New York Times has done a disservice to the nation and to journalism with its coverage of the Clinton, and did serious harm with this kind of coverage in 2016.
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Interesting "explanation."
Pretty much says, "We were (are) pathetic."
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This is a welcome mea culpa from Editor Dean Baquet.
Now, if someone at the NYT would take a second look at today's story about how Pete Buttigieg isn't empathetic enough, it would help put the Times back on track.
Compared to the Times under previous editors, it seems like it's all over the place, and not in a good way. It's often too deferential to Donald Trump while at the same time, it writes a scathing, and unfair look at how Mayor Pete handled a complex situation in which a while police officer shot an armed AA man. Not only did the Times question how Buttigieg handled the situation but it brought into the article the fact that he didn't come out as gay until fairly recently, as if that had something to do with the situation at hand.
I used to think that the NYT was the greatest newspaper in the world. These days, I question whether I should cancel my supscription on a regualr basis.
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@adm3: Yep, it's just like one very bad judgement after another.
I feel torn: The Times has great investigative journalists. But their editorial vision or priorities are deeply out of touch with the needs of our present.
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@adm3 same here. I used to feel happy to pay for good reporting, but unfortunately I haven’t seen any in the Times in recent years. One might almost suspect them of practicing access journalism rather than the more honorable kind.
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Really?
All the news (or not) that's fit to print?
We have guidelines that have worked well in the past, but we got criticized by critics of the President, so we dispensed with our guidelines?
How pathetic
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Baquet says, "In retrospect, a key consideration was that this was not a case where we were surfacing our own investigation — the allegations were already being discussed by the public".
He sure didn't apply the same consideration when the Times published repetitive accounts of Hillary Clinton's e-mail, day in and day out, during the run up to the 2016 presidential election. Just making it up as he goes.
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Fair or not, the Times drives a lot of conversation in the media and, in particular, television. This past Sunday none of the 5 major network talk shows said a word about the allegations, lending credence to those who now believe that this President could literally rape a woman on (754) 5th Avenue and get away with it. I wonder if yesterdays lack of coverage would've been different had the Times' been.
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I expect the Times' tilt towards Trump is still continuing and has been and is still unconscionable.
I would be surprised yet pleased if the Times prints this Comment. There is a lot of work that the Times needs to do.
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While I appreciate that the NYTimes is acknowledging that their handling of this story was woefully inadequate, this is of little consequence because neither this nor the subsequent article is being featured prominently on the website. Right now, it's in the "In Other News" section, below an article about the hats worn at the Royal Ascot. That story about hats—yes, hats, as in the thing you put on your head—is apparently more important than a corroborated sexual assault allegation against the president. Spare us the lip-service; it's insulting.
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@KS Ali Thank you. Brilliant observation. I was confused by the hat story and couldn't quite believe it. And I was also confused why I hadn't heard of the rape accusation in the Times (I'm a long time subscriber and read it regularly). I had to hear about it on a rare visit to Instagram! Weird. But you put it together beautifully.
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Yes, this is yet another in a very, very long list of accusations, but I cannot help but wonder why the NYT would choose to handle this issue the way so many Republicans have chosen to handle this: let's just wait-and-see, let's just think-about-it, ho-hum, .....
Unlike Ronald Reagan, this man is the ultimate Teflon president; absolutely nothing sticks! But, because nothing has stuck - so far - should we all just give up, give in, and let this latest reporting of an incident slowly fade away? E. Jean Carroll is no ignorant fool. She has been systematically checking all of the boxes. She saved the dress. She has recently checked in and verified with the two friends to whom she confided the details when this attack occurred (more than 20 years ago). She is composed and confident about exposing this dreadful occurrence. What more does the NYT require before giving this story the respect and gravitas that it deserves ?
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Between this, the breathless coverage of Hillary's email server in 2016, and the dismissive hand-waving over Russia's interference in that election, the New York Times should really be doing some serious soul-searching as to how they cover politics and what they should be prioritizing.
I wish I could say I was optimistic they will.
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@Zach: That would not be "optimistic." That would be deluded. Our betters, as you know, do not make "mistakes." Altho they are sometimes "overly cautious," or "overly incautious," or perhaps just a wee bit too deferential to the powers that be, since it would be unseemly to seem anything but "impartial."
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I'm not optimistic. I subscribe at a cut rate now, but when the rate doubles, I will be gone. So many horrible mistakes, especially the coverage of HRT's email servers.
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@Zach: Also, ... how can I say this? E Jean is not young. She does not have the dewy countenance of young Hope Hicks, who existential angst about responding to a subpoena just carries so much more "human interest," especially accompanied by a glam photo with her long hair pulled into a casual updo. Carroll's story might be 1000 times more important, but ... women over 50 are only interesting when we can make fun of them or demonize them, unless they're doing something useful like cooking.
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You failed your readers and you failed women, you still do.
Ms. Carroll admitted that she only told two friends yet you downplay this saying you couldn't find independent sources. Of course there are no independent sources aside from the women Ms Carroll told. This is typical in sexual assault. Yes, you have reported in the past about Mr. Trump's proclivity for assaulting women so why would you downplay this account?
By casting doubt on her claim and diminishing it's significance by burying the story, your paper is doing exactly what he wants, maybe that is the goal.
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@andrea: Don't you realize addressing this story might require displacing their 15th piece on a Harvard Dean being asked to step down from an advisory post, or a colorful spread of British hats? Have you no priorities?!
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@andrea
Ya know Andrea, when you describe it like that, what struck me was the parallel to trump saying ‘there were fine people on both sides.’
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I hope that Mr. Baquet will forgive us readers for not believing his claim that "...it had not been because of deference to the president."
When the president of the United States is accused repeatedly of sexual assault (by at least 16 different women!) along with being caught bragging about it, an additional claim from a high profile author couldn't possibly be treated with a level caution beyond what was reasonable without the pressure of extenuating circumstances.
So will this accusation finally be the one that brings justice? Certainly not if it's treated as a back page story in order to appease the accused.
And invoking past (actually, ancient in our 24 hr news cycle era) reporting of Donald Trump's sexual escapades to help justify this horrible softball approach toward the president is a little pathetic since it has obviously had minimal impact.
We desperately need consistent "speaking truth to power" journalism from the NY Times these days, but this venerable news source has been too busy suffering both-siderism since Trump was elected to provide that essential service to the American public.
We don't need "oops". We need the truth about the most powerful man on the planet. If Mr Baquet is too timid to provide it, then we need to find more courageous news sources.
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A woman invites a man into a dressing room with her, to be with her when she tries on a see-through body suit, then claims rape more than 20 years later, conveniently previewed in a magazine article prior to the publication of her book.
Where is The Times providing a more nuanced perspective on these allegations?
Of course, it doesn't really matter because we will all have forgotten about this completely in three weeks, more likely sooner, when the next manufactured outrage is presented.
And on and on and on.......
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@Jack: You've got it wrong. Trump asked her for help in finding a present 'for a girl'. He didn't want a hat. He didn't want a purse. He went to the lingerie section and then asked her to try a bodysuit on. She suggested he try it on over his pants. She was having what she described as a 'New York moment, a fun hi-jinks kind of thing. (And then, it sounds like, she feels guilty about going into the dressing room, not an unusual reaction considering our society's judgments on women but not on men).
Bottom line, she didn't expect the tycoon to rape her. He is the one to be scorned. And now he says, "She's not my type' as if men only rape women they want to date.
He's a criminal.
10
It's not too late to hold the failing feet of Mr. "I've Never Met This Person in My Life" to the fire.
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We can only hope he returns to his maniacal ol' self as Citizen Trump, no longer protected by office. Let the litigation begin...
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Really, your decision was based on deciding it not that important.
One day, it will be seen how barbaric it was that raping a woman was not important.
Powerful men have more important considerations.
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@annpatricia23: For heaven's sake, he did not hug her a bit aggressively, or put his hand on his shoulder!
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@Lisa W To clarify: you misunderstood. Trump raped her. The president of the US is a serial rapist and it is not taken seriously because the prevailing attitude is that rape is not as important as trade agreements, for example. I yhinkbwe are in agreement
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@annpatricia23 It seems given the MBS situation that trade agreements are not only more important rape but also more important than murder.
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Interesting because this article isn’t even linked to the original report, at least via the NYT app. I had to type in the heading. Please continue to amplify her story and others like it.
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One can only think if Ms Carroll had been brave enough to report her assault, this man might have never been president. Let’s hope she never had the dress cleaned.
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@KLKemp: Let's not fault Ms Carroll for her decision. Apparently just about every federal, state and city district attorneys' office on the east coast knew for decades that DJT was hip-deep in money laundering, tax fraud, organized crime and whatnot -- and never lifted a finger.
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@KLKemp. Was thinking that myself. It sounded, to me, like an open invitation to some SVU kind of forensics.
2
He constantly gets every break and facials upwards.
He literally describes this assault down to a “t” in the “Access Hollywood” interview.
I can’t even quote it here, yet he can be accused after he details doing it (to how many women?) and you’ll still “both-sides” with a “he said/she said” timidity.
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@Harry R. Sohl
There are very fine people on both sides.
4
NY Top Editors have handled a vary serious case against a sitting president with appropriate caution.
E. Jean Carroll recounted the rape allegations in a video interview with Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC. She says she wishes when asked about her age, she'd asked Trump to show his tax returns (25 year ago).
8
Where was the Times' caution when they were amplifying the inane allegations about Clinton's email server or the contents of the hacked emails from Wikileaks? Where is your caution when you serve as stenographers for the Trump administration and reprint readily proven lies?
Just because a Trump administration person says something that doesn't mean you need to rush to print to report that they said it. If they are lying say they aren't telling the American people the truth. Also, if one of your anonymous sources tells you a lie that finds its way to print then burn your source for lying to you. We need you to have allegiance to the truth, not to stenography.
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@Kelly, This is so well stated and so badly needed to be said. I don't know why the NYT has gotten away from a solemn commitment to truth and identifying those who play fast and loose with that truth. Well done.
8
Several things I'd like to know:
-Why was the article on this slotted into the NYT's Books section? The accusations in question are part of a new book, but most news outlets treated this, rightly, as news.
-Why were the corroborations from the two people that E. Jean Carroll mentions in her story—and which other outlets, such as the Washington Post, referred to in their reporting—not enough independent confirmation for the NYT?
-Mr. Baquet says that a key consideration is that the NYT was not "surfacing our own investigation." But the Times often follows on exclusive reporting from other outlets, and failed to do so in this case. What explanation does Mr. Baquet have for that inconsistency?
As a final note, on that last point, the NYT regularly publishes its own reporting on topics that have been broken by other outlets and studiously ignores that original reporting in its sourcing, acting as though the Times itself is "surfacing our own investigation." Does the NYT have a policy, stated or unstated, where original reporting elsewhere is not to be credited except in very rare instances?
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@Joe: Good question. If we can't claim ownership over a story, why bother?
God knows we wouldn't do something scandalous, like risk our reputation by allowing our journalists to go on Rachel Maddow!
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The Great Caution of the New York Times is becoming a major problem that emboldens those American leaders for whom our democracy is a nuisance. It presumes that there are level heads on all sides, and that the Grey Lady's job is merely to cut a swath down the middle. But this is no longer the case, if it ever was. As the great Howard Zinn once said, "you can't be neutral on a moving train." Your caution does damage. It has done damage here.
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@Brendan Hughes: If only the NYT felt such caution about, I dunno, Anthony Weiner's emails or the "Uranium One deal." God knows these seasoned professionals would never get led astray by the likes of Peter Schweizer or the NY FBI.
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As Ms. Carroll said on CNN this morning, she - and i - can't believe that Trump, after so many allegations, is still the President of the US. Any other person accused of such a crime would be toast by now. Witness Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, et.al. Even though it's late in this game, the NYTImes should report on this latest episode with vigor. Shine the light, please!
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I believe Ms. Carroll. She is very brave and I commend her for speaking out. By now, we know that Trump is a repeat offender when it comes to sexual assault. It is a story that needs to be told for the sake of our souls and our democracy.
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This is a lame story, two years too late. It would have had a tremendous impact had Ms. Carroll spoken out after the Access Hollywood tape. At that time, it would have provided corroborating evidence. Now, it's meh, who cares; he has done and said far worse things.
4
I hate Trump I believe every bad thing that he is alleged to have done. He has the lowest possible reputation. Yet we elected him because a large portion of America thought Hillary Clinton had less virtue. That is something the Democrats have yet come to terms with since they have not thrown Hillary and Bill out of the party.
But it's too late for this nonsense. I sure Trump did but what are we going to do about it? Nothing. Where was this lady in 2016. Why the wait?
We have to work on defeating his re-election. You can't defame anymore cause his reputation is as low as it can get. Allegations like this just distract people from the work that needs to be done to defeat Trump.
4
@Glenn - The woman has not had sex in the 25 years since Trump raped her. Sorry, but you don't get to decide when she should have come forward. Besides, something like 20 other women HAVE come forward and nothing happened. What do I tell my tween daughter about THAT?
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@Lauren: Yep, and she's getting death threats.
BTW: People really - really - need to read the piece in the New Yorker if they haven't. She's very clear about why she didn't come forward when it happened.
22
The sad truth is that women's voices still are not much taken seriously in this country. I believe Ms. Carroll and all his other myriad accusers. Trump is a national and international disgrace, and it brings shame upon us all that this degenerate is still in office and not in jail.
68
The story is what, a weekend old? What's stopping the Times from giving it front page coverage now?
165
So glad I also subscribe to and read the Washington Post. THAT paper gave and continues to give this story the coverage it deserves. How was this story NOT on the front page of the NYTimes? I am not buying this "overly cautious" excuse. Is this the 24th women to accuse DJT? Sounds like front page news to me.
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The accusation is awful and believable given the President's aggressive past behavior toward women. And the story will float way and make no difference, I believe.
8
I have no reason to doubt the story, too many credible accounts of other assaults have already surfaced. But I also agree with George Conway. Why isn’t this story being given the same consideration as Juanita Brodwick? I never voted for or supported Bill Clinton. But how are these stories different!
24
@Mainemomma Broaddrick consented to having a fling with Clinton but was not satisfied. Carroll gave no consent.
2
There is still time to right this wrong.
27
I think the Times did the right thing.
What is this? The 21st or 22nd accusation?
When I saw the headline, I thought, "Oh, another one." I read the article and thought it described another plausible accusation of sexual assault by Trump.
At this point, it is difficult to get too excited about these accusations. Trump denies them, and nothing happens to him no matter how credible the evidence.
6
Good for you! You listened and corrected your mistake. Shows integrity.
And good for the people who spoke out! Ms. Carroll deserved our support. What happens to one of us happens to all.
4
I have known E. Jean Carroll for 25 years. I knew nothing of the Trump incident. And it is always possible that even the most honest people lie. But it strikes me that if the Times had expanded its reporting beyond this one incident --- if calls had been made to the editors Jean has worked with over the years and friends who are respected and admired --- the paper could have given a fuller picture of this woman, her values and her integrity. And then readers could have judged that portrait vs. what we know about Trump. Instead, we were served the same "balanced" reporting -- he said/she said --- that seemed laughable a year or two ago and now seems irresponsible and dangerous.
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@Jesse Kornbluth: Am I the only one who feels the Times is stuck in another era?
Seeing E Jean on the Last Word, the way she told her story just made sense. And you could tell that Lawrence O'Donnell "got it," that he understood how, in the midst of shock and horror, she was trying to turn the whole thing into a funny anecdote, because she's a writer who has this wry not exactly black humor .... Many of us of course "know" E Jean from her years as an advice columnist. It's an intimate bond, and tho I've never met her, I trust her.
26
@Jesse Kornbluth
"Instead, we were served the same "balanced" reporting -- he said/she said --- that seemed laughable a year or two ago and now seems irresponsible and dangerous."
This is a huge problem with the media, and it's frustrating that the NYT contributes to the problem instead of doing their job.
15
I’m confused. The policy is to ask the victim/accuser to name people who can corroborate their story then require that someone they didn’t mention also corroborate it? If they are thorough and accurate you wouldn’t be able to find such a person.
13
Why is this error of coverage being discussed in the past tense, as if we missed the window, and oh well? Surely, if you feel a mistake has been made, you can rectify it, starting now. It is a grave accusation, and falls in line precisely with other women's reports of the president's past behavior. It also falls in line with the president's boastful assessments of his behavior with women, as delineated in the Access Hollywood tape.
Regardless of who broke the story, it deserves somber, front-page consideration as we continue to assess 45's fitness--or unfitness-- for the office he currently occupies.
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