When Hunter Walker from Talking Points memo called me yesterday afternoon in search of NSFWCORP writer Olivia Nuzzi, something felt off. There was something in Walker’s voice as he asked me for comment on claims by Anthony Weiner’s staff that Olivia had only written about her time working for his Weiner’s campaign for her own personal publicity. It sounded almost like glee. But why? “Is there anything specific they’re alleging?” I asked.
“They just had some candid things to say about her,” Walker replied. (I didn’t record the conversation, so I’m likely paraphrasing his exact words.)
An hour later, of course, Walker’s tone made perfect sense. Weiner’s communications director, Barbara Morgan, had called Olivia a “cunt,” a “bitch” a “twat” and a “slutbag.” All on the record.
I’d already tipped Olivia off about Walker’s call, of course, and we’d agreed that I’d continue to stand between her and the billion news outlets trying to get her to comment. Whatever Weiner’s people were claiming, Olivia had — and has — no interest in joining the media circus. Her pieces for NSFWCORP, and the follow up for the Daily News, were pieces of journalism, written following her experience on a campaign that, even before today, was falling apart.
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