CNN’s Alisyn Camerota early Thursday offered a stinging disclaimer around Michael Wolff’s new book, which includes allegations and accounts of palace intrigue in the West Wing, saying it “isn’t really journalism.”
“We should mention that it sounds like Michael Wolff’s modus operandi was to let the people he interviewed spin yarns,” the “New Day” co-host said, said regarding “Fire and Fury.”
“And then he didn’t necessarily fact-check them. He didn’t necessarily need two sources,” the former “Fox & Friends” host continued.
“This isn’t really journalism. This is a very interesting read but in terms of the way he processed them, he admits in the author’s note that he let people tell their own stories and he printed them,” she concluded.
{mosads}The disclaimer comes as cable news has been dominated by discussion around Wolff and the book, which is set to be released next Tuesday and is already No. 1 on Amazon’s book rankings.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that President Trump’s attorneys have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the book’s publisher, demanding that Henry Holt & Company not publish the book, and apologize to the president. The letter, according to the newspaper, demands that Henry Holt and Co. “immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination of the book,” including excerpts and summaries of the book’s contents, and requests a copy of the book in its entirety as they pursue possible legal action.
Also on Thursday, Axios reported that Wolff has tapes of some of his interviews with officials, including former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon and former White House deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh.
The officials in some cases believed they were conducting off-the-record interviews, according to the report.