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NYT editor regrets not making a bigger deal out of Trump rape allegation
New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet (L). (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)

NYT editor regrets not making a bigger deal out of Trump rape allegation

'...we were overly cautious'

New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet responded to criticism of the paper's coverage of a rape allegation against President Donald Trump by conceding that he wishes NYT would have made a bigger deal out of it.

How did the Times cover it? The Times initially covered the allegation, which was made by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in her soon-to-be-released memoir "What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal," and which has been denied by the president, with an article in the books section. It wasn't until days later that the story received coverage on the media company's home page.

What does Baquet wish had been done differently? Baquet and other Times editors say the story should've been prominently reported on the NYT homepage initially. Baquet said the decision not to make a big deal out of the story was due to the "broad attention" the story was already receiving from a New York Magazine piece, and because they could not find independent sources to corroborate the allegation.

In retrospect, Baquet believes the prominence of the involved parties and the fact that the allegation was already circulating "should've compelled us to play it bigger."

What has Trump said about all this? "It's a total false accusation. I don't know anything about her," President Trump said, according to The New York Times. "She's made this charge against others, and you know, people have to be careful, because they are playing with very dangerous territory.

"It's a totally false accusation," Trump said. "I have absolutely no idea who she is. There's some picture where we're shaking hands. It looks like at some kind of event. I have my coat on. I have my wife standing next to me."

Carroll said Trump raped her in a dressing room in 1995 or 1996, after what she said started as a friendly encounter during which Trump allegedly asked her to try on lingerie. She did not go to the police when alleged incident occurred, but told two friends about it. The two friends are cited in Carroll's book.

(H/T The Hill)

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