Breitbart reporter doubts assault of colleague by Trump campaign manager, gets indefinitely suspended

Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski talks to reporters

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

published 11 March 2016

On Friday, Breitbart News said it stood by the account of reporter Michelle Fields, who said she was roughed up while trying to ask Donald Trump a question at his victory rally on Tuesday, with a Washington Post reporter identifying her assailant as Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski (pictured). Fields has also filed a formal report with the police. On Thursday, Trump had said he believed Fields "made the story up," despite there being audio of the encounter, an eyewitness (and on-the-record) account, and bruises on Fields' arm.

But Trump and his campaign aren't the only skeptics — Breitbart reporter Patrick Howley tweeted (then deleted) his own doubts about Fields' assault, echoing the Trump line that if there isn't video, it didn't happen. On Thursday afternoon, Breitbart said Howley's "comments were inappropriate" and senior management "has decided to suspend him indefinitely effective immediately." Lewandowski, Breitbart News CEO Larry Solov said, "must accept responsibility for his actions and apologize."

Washington Post media critic Ben Wemple said the Trump campaign's refusal to acknowledge the incident is "hardly surprising," given that "for nine months or so, the Trump campaign has been bullying the media, trashing the media, and threatening to make it easier to sue the media." He added that Howley, while working for The Daily Caller, has "distinguished himself with some choice misogynistic commentary," much of which "isn’t even repeatable on the website of a family newspaper without editing." Breitbart has been generally supportive of Trump.

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On Friday, Lewandowski did not address the allegations from Fields, but he did address the rowdiness (and sometimes outright violence) of Trump supporters. "I think Mr. Trump's people are very, very passionate and they're angry because of the way that this country has been taken advantage of from so many other countries," he said. "What we want is to have the opportunity to bring Mr. Trump's message to everyone in a respectful manner."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.