During an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wednesday to promote his new book critical of American foreign policy, journalist Ronan Farrow confessed that “one of the most surprising beats was how hard it was to get some people on the record.” He then specifically singled out former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who attempted to cancel an interview with him because of his reporting on the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal.
“Hillary Clinton had scheduled an interview while I was at the height of the Weinstein reporting and her folks got in touch and said, 'We hear you’re working on a big story,' sounded very concerned, and tried to cancel that interview,” Farrow recounted to anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The GMA host and former Bill Clinton campaign operative feigned shock at the revelation: “Over the Weinstein stuff?...Oh, I’m surprised at that.”
Any real reporter would have followed up on such a bombshell, but Stephanopoulos quickly moved on.
Considering Weinstein was a major donor to the Democratic Party and supporter of Clinton, there should be nothing surprising about why she would be afraid to answer questions from Farrow, who broke the Weinstein story.
When it was revealed in December that Clinton knew of rape claims against Weinstein before the scandal went public, GMA was silent.
Here is a transcript of the exchange between Stephanopoulos and Farrow on the April 25 GMA:
8:45 AM ET
(...)
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: You also spoke with every living secretary of state. What surprised you most about those conversations?
RONAN FARROW: A lot of things. You know, the level of candor from everyone. From Colin Powell, who said, “We’re ripping the guts out of the State Department. We’re mortgaging your future.” To Rex Tillerson, who gave a lot of access.
I mean, the honest answer is, one of the most surprising beats was how hard it was to get some people on the record. Hillary Clinton had scheduled an interview while I was at the height of the Weinstein reporting and her folks got in touch and said, “We hear you’re working on a big story,” sounded very concerned, and tried to cancel that interview.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Over the Weinstein stuff?
FARROW: Over the Weinstein stuff.
STPEHANOPOULOS: Oh, I’m surprised at that.
FARROW: It was surprising.
(...)
