Senior editor of Texas Monthly, Erica Grieder, took to Twitter Friday evening to condemn the National Enquirer’s tabloid piece on Ted Cruz published earlier this week.
The tweetstorm came on the same day the Republican presidential candidate addressed the article at a press conference, calling the piece, "garbage, complete and utter lies" likely inspired by "Trump and his henchmen."
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks to the media after a town hall meeting on a campaign stop, Friday, March 25, 2016, in Oshkosh, Wis. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)
Grieger's comments echoed Cruz's refutation in brutal detail:
1. Ok, I said last night I would lay out what I know about the "#CruzSexScandal", so I will.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
Tweet 2 out of 20 seemed to mimic Republican front-runner Donald Trump's declarative Twitter composition style:
2. I know some folks, as always, will believe what they prefer to, regardless of facts or reason. Sad! But setting them aside...
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
3. Here's how @KatrinaPierson responded on March 15th, the first time Cruz's rivals tried to make this happen: pic.twitter.com/2dt7B9uDKT
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
4. Note that @KatrinaPierson isn't just calling this a lie. She's saying, correctly that it's not even plausible: "the absurdity is obvious"
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
5. That was my reaction too when a reporter from a different tabloid asked me, in January, if I had heard this KP & Cruz rumor
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder)March 25, 2016
6. I had not. But it struck me as almost certainly BS for several reasons, which I will list in the next few tweets.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
The next several tweets, dripping in satire, address not only the alleged sex scandal, but also former accusations Trump has made regarding Cruz and his eligibility for the presidency.
7. If you know anything about Cruz, it's that he's calculating & ambitious & has been running for president since his Canadian infancy.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
8. It's possible that even this sinister mastermind has human foibles, but would he bang a volunteer in a closet at a public event? No. Duh.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
9. Further, if the controversial Cruz had snuck off with the controversial KP at a public event in 2012, I'd have heard about it, years ago.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
10.(I'm not gonna bother trying to convince people who don't already realize that. It's just another reason I found it dubious in January.)
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
11. In any case, as I observed to the tabloid journo in January, based on what he heard, the rumor *would be verifiable* if true.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
12. Who knows what lurks in the human heart? But presumably there would have been plenty of witnesses to any sneaking off in a public event.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
13. In any case, after hearing the rumor (in January 2016) (in Iowa) (from a NY or DC based journalist) I asked around just in case
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
14. None of my sources, in Cruz's circles or KP's, thinks this is true or even plausible (one yelled at me for asking stupid questions. lol)
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
15. It's possible that all of those sources are wrong, or lying to me. Or heck, for all you know I'm lying to you to protect my boy Cruz.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
16. But if you're harboring such suspicions, consider this: when the NE broke the John Edwards story, it was substantiated pretty quickly.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
17. (Also, side note, the Edwards story was prima facie plausible. Did the $500 haircut guy fall for a Bret Easton Ellis hanger on? Hmm)
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
18. Point being that more than one outlet has been trying to chase down Cruz rumors since January at latest. They'd have evidence by now.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
19. Annnnnd, of course, the @NatEnquirer has been doing Trump's bidding all year and this story is pretty obviously planted. I mean. lol.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
20. So, overall: those of you hyping #CruzSexScandal are pushing a smear against 5 innocent woman. That's pathetic & you should be ashamed.
— EricaGrieder (@EricaGrieder) March 25, 2016
