Hours after a State Department spokesman publicly thanked Fox News Channel correspondent James Rosen for his role in uncovering that video of a State Department media briefing had been edited to remove questions Rosen had asked about Iran, a former State Department spokesperson–and current adviser to President Obama–has accused Rosen of “attacking my character.”
In a letter to Rosen, Jen Psaki said “you have spent the last three weeks vilifying me on television without any evidence of my knowledge or involvement and without once reaching out and asking me,” about the briefing video.
While some have hinted that Psaki may have knowledge of how the video came to be edited, Rosen said Thursday he has never questioned Psaki’s character, nor suggested or implied she was responsible for editing the footage.
It was in response to a question from Rosen that Psaki wrote her email, stressing she had no role in the edited video, and accusing Rosen of targeting her. “Hopefully you will find the time to spend on the range of global events happening in the world in between attacking my character.”
The full email exchange is as follows:
ROSEN EMAIL
Jen,
Some have pointed to a certain aspect of your statement, highlighted below, as not removing yourself from consideration for having issued the order to edit the briefing video:
I had no knowledge of nor would I have approved of any form of editing or cutting my briefing transcript on any subject while at the State Department. I believe deeply in providing the press as much information on important issues as possible.
Of course, as Liz Trudeau and others have stressed, the briefing transcript remained unaltered the entire time. Do you want to issue a revised statement, asserting the same for the video, which was altered?
Forgive me if you have already put out something along these lines and I missed it.
Yours cordially,
James
PSAKI RESPONSE
James,
My statement applies to the video which is considered a form of the transcript and every aspect of this.
I understand it is inconvenient for you that I have nothing to do with this given you have spent the last three weeks vilifying me on television without any evidence of my knowledge or involvement and without once reaching out and asking me, but I would encourage you to also ask the State Department if there is any evidence. A shred or any information at all that suggests I had any knowledge of this or any connection to this on any level. Hopefully you will find the time to spend on the range of global events happening in the world in between attacking my character.
Consider that on the record from me as well
Thanks