The New York Times’ “anonymous” exposure has been labeled an “embarrassment”.

The newspaper caused a stir when it published the comment, “I am part of the resistance within the Trump administration,” written by a “senior official” who is undermining President Donald Trump.

Speculation about the identity of “Anonymous” – who also published a book with the title last year A warning – dominated national and international reporting for weeks with theories ranging from Vice President Mike Pence or Defense Secretary James Mattis to First Lady Melania Trump.

On Wednesday, “Anonymous” appeared as someone named Miles Taylor, a relatively low-profile, unknown employee of the Department of Homeland Security who now works as a commentator for CNN.

The revelation sparked fierce criticism from both sides of the aisle.

“Aside from how you feel about Taylor’s actions, I’m not sure they are New York Times The decision to grant anonymity to a DHS chief of staff and to designate him as a “senior administrative officer” is particularly lasting, “he said https://twitter.com/Susan_Hennessey/status/1321535944105873408, Editor-in-Chief of the well-known anti-Trump blogs Lawfare.

“The mere fact that the majority of people have clearly believed that the author was dramatically older than he was in reality means that the Times could not provide sufficient context for its readership. ”

Many indicated that Mr. Taylor was still a policy advisor at the time the report was published.

It’s an embarrassment. https://t.co/jIebjS1Q5d

— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) October 28, 2020

from the news site Axios described it as “an embarrassment”.

Little did I know that the definition of “senior clerk” could be “* so * expansive,” he wrote. “Wasn’t even an agency chief of staff at the time the comment ran.”

ABC News White House correspondent

Is an advisor to a cabinet secretary really a "senior administration official"? The widespread impression at the time of the NYT op-ed was that "Anonymous" was someone who actually advised the president. https://t.co/OphOMsudK5

— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) October 28, 2020

made the same point. “Is an advisor to a cabinet secretary really a ‘senior administrator’?” He asked. “The widespread impression at the time of NOW In my opinion, ‘Anonymous’ was someone who actually advised the President. ”

Mr Taylor had repeatedly denied being anonymous.

He lied twice during an interview on CNN in August when asked about Anonymous’ identity.

“Do you know who this is?” Host Anderson Cooper asked him.

“I am not,” replied Mr. Taylor.

“And look, that was a board game in Washington DC where a lot of people were trying to figure out who it could be. I have my own thoughts about who this could be. ”

“You’re not anonymous?” Asked Cooper.

“I wear a mask for two things, Anderson, Halloween and pandemics. So no, ”said Taylor.

Vice News political correspondent

I asked @MilesTaylorUSA during our @VICENews in August if he was Anonymous. He said no. Exchange below: pic.twitter.com/cz1jkku6Q3

— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) October 28, 2020

also posted messages with Mr Taylor in which he denied being anonymous.

“Oh, I wanted to ask about Anonymous. Yes. Are you anonymous Do you know who Anonymous is? ” She wrote.

He reiterated his testimony from CNN, adding, “I get the impression that the press is reporting that we will be hearing from this person shortly. And I hope we do. ”

Washington Post Media critic

A CNN spox just told me that Miles Taylor will remain a contributor despite lying to Anderson Cooper. CNN cannot have it both ways -- slamming Trump for his lies, yet condoning a very big and blatant one by its own contributor.

— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) October 28, 2020

said he had been informed by a CNN spokesman that Mr. Taylor would continue to be a contributor despite Cooper’s lie.

“CNN can’t have it both ways – beating Trump up for his lies, but tolerating a very large and obvious one from its own contributor,” Wemple said.

Conservative journalists despised Die New York Times about the revelation.

“I love that so much,” said Mollie Hemingway, managing editor at The federalist.

“The person who does the NOW was heavily subordinated, such as the Vice President or WH Chief of Staff, or cabinet member was literally “Miles Taylor”. HAHAHA. ”

She added: “I was told that ‘Miles Taylor’ is someone you wouldn’t know about Adam if you didn’t watch Jake Tapper’s show as he apparently shows him regularly. NOW and other big media falsely sold him as top-tier Trump officials when they used him to tarnish Trump. ”

https://twitter.com/SaysSimonson/status/1321593596894654467 of the Washington Examiner said, “In retrospect, it makes sense that no one could guess who Anonymous was because no one was cynical enough to assume that NOW essentially lied to us all. ”

Many pointed out that it raises serious questions about other anonymous sources that are commonly used by Die New York Times in his reporting.

“Now that you see what a ‘senior official’ looks like, imagine what kind of people are being used as anonymous sources.” National review senior writer

Now that you see what a "senior official" looks like, imagine what sort of people are being relied on as anonymous sources.

— David Harsanyi (@davidharsanyi) October 28, 2020

said.

Reporter

Were NYT’s sources for the inaccurate Russia bounty story higher or lower ranking than Miles Taylor was when he wrote the NYT op-Ed?

— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) October 29, 2020

from The daily caller asked: “Goods NOWThe sources for the inaccurate Russia bounty story were higher or lower than Miles Taylor when he wrote it NOW op-Ed? “

https://twitter.com/Heminator/status/1321576813865435137, senior writer at RealClearInvestigations, said the newspaper’s “Miles Taylor Gambit” should make everyone questionable NOW Reporting based on anonymous sources in recent years ”.

“This was clearly a high-level editorial decision to misrepresent him,” he said.

The frantic media coverage of the bomb in 2018 has also been dredged.

“Some attitudes have not aged well,” wrote the freelance journalist

🧵Thread🧵

Today we found out that the “Anonymous” “senior” Trump official (of @nytimes op-ed & book fame) was @MilesTaylorUSA, former staffer & current @CNN contributor (go figure).

I thought it was a good time to revisit all the hubbub. Some takes haven’t aged well.👇

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) October 29, 2020

put together a long thread highlighting the most egregious examples.

A particularly embarrassing example was CNN editor-in-chief Chris Cillizza, who drafted a strict defense of Die New York Times in 2018.

“Contrary to what Trump says on his Twitter feed, media organizations are very careful when it comes to granting anonymity to anyone for attacks,” wrote Cillizza.

The prominent political commentator insisted that it was “not a light-hearted decision” and that the decision to publish it “should tell you that this is not a disgruntled middle-to-senior manager buried in red tape.”

“This is a real high-ranking official,” he wrote. “A name that most people who follow politics – and maybe some who don’t – would recognize. The times I just wouldn’t do what it did for anything but a big figure in the Trump world. ”

Republicans also popped the revelation.

“As laughable as the Miles Taylor Anonymous episode is, it’s just as detrimental to the media,” said the White House chief of staff

Laughable as the “Miles Taylor Anonymous” episode is, it’s every bit as damaging to the media. The New York Times amplified a no-name agency deputy with no access to President Trump and misled Americans into thinking he was an influential senior official. Absolutely ridiculous.

— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) October 28, 2020

.

„Die New York Times reinforced an anonymous agent from the agency with no access to President Trump and misled Americans into believing he was an influential high-ranking official. Absolutely ridiculous. ”

Former Acting Director of the National Intelligence Service https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1321537986119557120 said he had “never heard of this guy”. “The DC media said he was an insider stopping decisions,” he said. “You are ashamed again.”

Senior Adviser to the National Republican Senatorial Committee

This is like the Office episode when Michael promises everyone he has a big surprise to reward them and shows up with ice cream sandwiches and everyone is furious. https://t.co/Hm6gBhRH4B

— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) October 28, 2020

compared it to “that office Episode where Michael promises everyone he’ll have a big surprise to reward them and shows up with ice cream sandwiches and everyone is mad. ”

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany previously responded to the reveal with a fiery statement.

“This lowly, disgruntled former employee is a liar and a coward who chose anonymity over action and leadership,” she said.

“The American people elected President Trump to realize their vision for the country, not an arrogant Deep State agent trying to put his agenda before the president’s America First policy.”

At a campaign rally on Wednesday, Mr. Trump slammed Mr. Taylor.

“This guy should be prosecuted,” he said. “This guy is a low-level, low-life I don’t know. I have no idea who he is except that I saw him on TV a while ago. But I think they kicked him out a long time ago. ”

[email protected]