Philippe Reines, a U.S. State Department spokesman, sent a mocking email to Fox News producer/correspondent Justin Fishel for suggesting Hillary Clinton was not too ill from her concussion to testify about Benghazi before Congress. It's a devastating put down - and with a sense of humor.
According to the Washington Post, Reines sent the following email to Fishel and to "ranking Fox News official" Bryan Boughton:
Justin –
We owe you an apology. And I’m adding Bryan so he’s aware of how badly we erred. I’m almost embarrassed to even admit this – but somehow your question at today’s Daily Press Briefing was somehow completely mauled and transcribed in the release...
...I just called them and read them the riot act for putting such misleading, accusatory, and absolutely asinine words in your mouth. Because after what we and her doctors explained over the weekend regarding her health, you couldn’t possibly have been insinuating the ulterior motives that question implies. No way. No credible journalist would do that without any basis whatsoever...
Anyway, our sincere apologies. If you send us what you really said, I’ll make sure it’s properly reflected.
Best,Philippe
Read the entire email plus the original exchange between Fishel and the State Department at WaPo.
NOTE TO JUSTIN FISHEL
Calling yourself a producer/correspondent is an insult to fine journalists nationwide. You are a lousy reporter. A middle school student studying journalism could do a better job than you. We think you are the one who is suffering from a blood clot in the brain. That would explain your comments at the daily briefings.
NOTE TO BRYAN BOUGHTON, AKA DC BUREAU CHIEF
You were never worthy of that promotion. You couldn’t coordinate a traffic stop in Washington.