New York Times Hid Multiple Key Facts In Kavanaugh Yearbook Hit thefederalist.com/2018/09/25/new…
A New York Times article scrutinizing inside jokes in the 1983 yearbook of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Georgetown Preparatory School hid multiple problems with its claims, including that it was sourced to a rabidly anti-Trump politician in Maryland and his associate.
Richard S. Madaleno Jr., a classmate of Kavanaugh’s at Georgetown Prep, is a state senator in Maryland who recently lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor. He garnered headlines for a campaign ad that featured him kissing his male spouse as a rebuke of Trump.
Another source for the article, Georgetown Prep classmate William Fishburne, was a campaign surrogate for Madaleno. He implored classmates to vote in the June 26 primary. The “staunch liberal” finished fifth in a crowded primary.
Yet another source for the article who condemned the jokes that were printed in the yearbook was himself an editor at the yearbook, although that was not mentioned in the article.
He and a source who supposedly “requested anonymity because he fears retribution” said that the the inside jokes were bragging about sexual conquests with the female student. Kavanaugh and several of his classmates denied the charge.
Several of the men say sources the Times used weren’t close enough to the group to speak knowledgeably about their jokes.
The last line of the article is “[Dolphin] and a second friend of Ms. Dolphin’s denied that there was any sexual contact between Ms. Dolphin and Judge Kavanaugh or anyone else in his circle.”
A similar denial was the first line of a statement to the NYT from some of the men mentioned in the article, but it was not printed.
The Times, which allowed anonymous sources to make the claim of sexual bragging that forms the basis of the story, would not allow anonymous sources to dispute that claim or defend the group of classmates.
“The New York Times’ callous treatment of the yearbook references to our friend have now destroyed relationships that span four decades. These friendships can’t be recovered and will never be replaced."
"The anguish caused to our friend is immeasurable; the loss of her trust and respect is devastating,” said one member of the group, who requested anonymity both because he worries about causing further distress and for fear the NYT will continue to target him"
