Traffic drum/human hybrid stops shrieking insults at people, starts shrieking because people said mean things about it (UPDATE – Publisher Henry Holt responds to unpresidented threats)
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But given the amount of interest this book has already generated, frightening the author and publisher into spiking it may be harder than he thinks.
A lawyer representing President Trump sought Thursday to stop the publication of a new behind-the-scenes book about the White House that has already led Trump to angrily decry his former chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon.
The legal notice — addressed to author Michael Wolff and the president of the book’s publisher — said Trump’s lawyers were pursuing possible charges including libel in connection with the forthcoming book, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.”
The letter by Beverly Hills-based attorney Charles J. Harder demanded the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., “immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination of the book” or excerpts and summaries of its contents. The lawyers also seek a full copy of the book as part of their investigation.
The day the #StupidestPresidentEver tried to stop publication of a book is the day he truly became president.
Late Wednesday, lawyers for Trump sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bannon, arguing he violated the employment agreement he signed with the Trump Organization in numerous ways and also may have defamed the president. They ordered that he stop communicating either confidential and or disparaging information, and preserve all records in preparation for “imminent” legal action.
“You have breached the Agreement by, among other things, communicating with author Michael Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members, and the Company, disclosing Confidential Information to Mr. Wolff, and making disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements to Mr. Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members, and the Company,” read the letter from lawyer Charles Harder.
Oh please, don’t start a legal airing of dirty laundry about what Bannon said as a White House official versus what he said as a campaign manager. That would be horrible. And under no circumstances should a court be asked to opine on the limits of an NDA signed by people who work for the DOPUS. It would be tragic if President Dumpling were to learn there are times when he can’t just bellow SHUT UP and make it stick.
But the much anticipated account of life in Trump’s White House caught the president and his West Wing team off-guard, with the president huddling with White House communications director Hope Hicks, one of his most trusted advisers, and Sanders to craft the fiery statement, after calling friends for much of the morning. Aides thought they had more time to prepare for the book’s formal release.
According to the article, the White Trash House is desperate to get a copy of the book, probably so they know who else to threaten. It’s not like tRump is going to read the thing.
But who — besides the Bigot-Americans who voted for Orange Scum — is to blame for pouring kerosene on the bonfire of the inanities? Everyone of course. Except Malicious Mango:
Trump also blasted others in the White House for talking to Wolff, who was frequently spotted wandering the West Wing with no escort or ensconced in Bannon’s office, especially during the early months of the administration.
Wolff said Trump was aware of the project and allowed others to participate. An excerpt of the book, published online in New York magazine, said the author conducted more than 200 interviews “over a period of 18 months with the president, most members of his senior staff, and many people to whom they in turn spoke.”
Sanders said that Wolff “never actually sat down with the president” since Trump took office and that the two men had only had one five- to seven-minute conversation “that had nothing to do, originally, with the book.”
One senior White House official said Trump advisers considered Wolff friendly and believed it would be beneficial to speak with him; this person also said that Wolff interviewed Trump.
Anyone who thinks that more buttoned-down members of the GOP will flee this shitstorm, or at least carry a stout umbrella until it passes, is the sort of person I’d like to play poker with. Right after I sell them a bridge.
In a conversation with Trump on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised the White House reaction.
“He told the president it was perfect and he wouldn’t change a word,” one person familiar with the discussion said.
Singing in the rain. Just singing in the rain…
Update — In the cease and desist letter to Henry Holt, publisher of Michael Wolff’s Trash Fire & Fury, tRump’s attorney demanded a copy of the book. Henry Holt appears has given in to the demand.
“Due to unprecedented demand, we are moving the on-sale date for all formats of ‘Fire and Fury,’ by Michael Wolff, to Friday, January 5, at 9 a.m. ET, from the current on-sale date of Tuesday, January 9,” a Henry Holt spokeswoman told CNN Thursday afternoon.
Either that or the publishing company just stuck both middle fingers so far up the DOPUS’ nose that he’s getting a scalp massage from the inside.
