Amid new rounds of reporting about the breadth of information being sought from current and former White House officials by Robert Mueller, the special counsel now probing possible ties between President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, political reporter and Axios co-founder Mike Allen suggests that a potential "honey pot" of information might also be found in the copious notes taken by former press secretary Sean Spicer.
As Allen reports Thursday, "Former colleagues of [Spicer] tell Axios that he filled 'notebook after notebook' during meetings at the Republican National Committee, later at the Trump campaign, and then at the White House."
But after reaching out to Spicer himself for comment on the existence of his notebooks, Allen—instead of a "no comment"—was given a cease and desist.
In a subsequent email, sent in response to an earlier request for comment, Spicer accuses Allen of "harrassment" and repeats his warning that if contacted again he "contact the appropriate legal authorities."
OPERATOR: 911, what's your emergency?
SPICER: Mike Allen just sent me a text and I'm scared
OPERATOR: Sir, remain calm, help is on the way https://t.co/bmmsFrExOH
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 21, 2017
And while Allen is not without critics for his style of political journalism, it seemed clear from social media postings that Spicer was taking the brunt for this exchange.
Pretty much every person talking about Mike Allen right now knows he's a deeply unethical journalist, but is ignoring it to bash Spicer.
— Alan Smithee (@ActualFlatticus) September 21, 2017
Wait, what? @seanspicer threatens to report @mikeallen to the "appropriate authorities" for, uh, texting him? https://t.co/BdSGyeFOsb pic.twitter.com/KEyroQZKSd
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) September 21, 2017
The Spicer-Allen email spat leads me to believe Young Sean is hearing Muellersteps behind him.
Also, do I really have to pick a side here?— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 21, 2017
reporters seeking comment from public figures is apparently "harassment" now, to Sean pic.twitter.com/1oQUOpHN1H
— Katherine Krueger (@kath_krueger) September 21, 2017
