FBI Official And US Attorney Abruptly Cancel on Rachel Maddow; Go Figure

June 27th, 2011 1:41 PM

... And after Maddow had spoken so glowingly of an FBI strategy for capturing notorious fugitive mobster Whitey Bulger. Or did she?

Rachel Maddow made a curious disclosure on her MSNBC show Friday after interviewing former Boston Globe reporter Dick Lehr, co-author of "Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob," about Bulger's court appearance that day in his native Boston (video clip after page break) --

I should note that we had scheduled interviews tonight with the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts responsible for prosecuting the Bulger case and with the head of the Boston FBI office. Those interviewed were scheduled for tonight, they were confirmed and then both guests backed out. No comment.

Gee, without even telling you why? An explanation that could easily run along these lines -- yes, we agreed to come on your show -- until we saw a clip in which it seemed to us that you mocked our tactics. Tactics which, not incidentally, resulted in two high-profile arrests.

It was probably when Maddow asked in mock excitement last Monday, mimicking FBI officials, "Do you think we can get on 'The View'?!" that she crossed the line into disparagement, suggesting that FBI investigators were motivated by little more than self-promotion. And, even worse, are fans of "The View."