Jared Kushner is reportedly the White House staffer behind Joe Scarborough's blackmail allegations
Apparently it was Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, who told Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough that he'd have to "personally apologize" to Trump if he wanted to stop a story about him from being published in the National Enquirer, New York's Gabriel Sherman reported Friday.
Sherman reported that Kushner and Scarborough texted in "mid-April" about the story, which was about Scarborough's romantic relationship with his co-host Mika Brzezinski, which was not public at the time. Trump was apparently upset about the tough coverage Morning Joe had given him since his inauguration, and Kushner reportedly told Scarborough that he'd have to apologize about this if he wanted Trump to intervene and stop the story from running.
Scarborough refused, and on June 5, the Enquirer published a story titled, "Morning Joe Sleazy Cheating Scandal!"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Brzezinski and Scarborough first revealed Trump's alleged blackmailing attempts in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Friday, the day after Trump fired off nasty tweets about the TV hosts. In the tweets, Trump called Brzezinski "low I.Q. Crazy Mika" and Scarborough "Psycho Joe."
Brzezinski and Scarborough mentioned that "top White House staff members" warned them about the story, but they hadn't disclosed who that staff member was.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 2, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
North Korea tests ICBM, readies troops in Ukraine
Speed Read Thousands of North Korean troops are likely to join Russian action against Ukraine
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Supreme Court allows purge of Virginia voter rolls
Speed Read Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is purging some 1,600 people from state voter rolls days before the election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada accuses top Modi ally of directing Sikh attacks
Speed Read Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris makes closing case in huge rally at DC's Ellipse
Speed Read The Democratic nominee asked voters to "turn the page" on Trump's "division" and "chaos"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'I am not a Nazi,' Trump says amid MSG rally fallout
Speed Read Trump and his campaign are attempting to stem the fallout from comments made by speakers at Sunday's rally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published