The Wisconsin-based Cheese Reporter newspaper has deleted tweets that claimed its specialty cheese editor’s email accounts was hacked to send a message about rape to a Republican official.
An email from Moira Crowley, 45, the specialty cheese editor, was sent to Carly Atchison, press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, stating that she hoped she would get “raped at a MAGA rally and have to carry that child to term.”
The newspaper claimed Tuesday on Twitter that Crowley’s account had been hacked.
By Wednesday, however, the tweets no longer appeared on the Cheese Reporter’s Twitter page, bringing into question whether Crowley’s account was actually hacked. Neither the Cheese Reporter’s official Facebook page nor Crowley’s personal Facebook page was visible.
Cheese Reporter did not respond to request for comment regarding the deleted tweets, any action it had taken against Crowley, and whether it had spoken with Atchinson since she received the email.
“Recently, one of our employee’s email was hacked and deplorable messages were transmitted,” the newspaper posted to @cheesereporter in a now-deleted tweet. “Cheese Reporter and the employee ask for your understanding during this difficult time and in no way does Cheese Reporter or the employee condone or endorse any of these hacked messages.”
Atchinson told the Washington Examiner that said that she was blocked by the Cheese Reporter’s Twitter account and that “[n]either the NRCC nor I have received an apology from anyone at the Cheese Reporter.”
Cheese Reporter said in another since-deleted Tuesday tweet that anyone who followed the account due to the “hacked comments” should unfollow them: “For those who recently began following us for the hacked comments, please unfollow our Twitter account as we do not want to be a messenger for your beliefs,” the tweet read.
Atchinson said that the email from Crowley was prompted after she wrote a release advocating legislation to protect babies that survived abortions, which is sent to those who subscribe to the NRCC emails.
“Moira — My personal story is none of your business, but suffice to say your comments are personally hurtful and disgusting,” Atchinson said in her response to Crowley in emails provided to the Washington Examiner. “There is an unsubscribe button at the bottom of the email. I hope you learn to conduct yourself in a more professional manner and pray that the hatred you hold in your heart heals. — Carly.”
