Updated at 8 p.m.
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman says President Trump has been scared of Roger Stone “for years.”
After the president attacked her as a “third rate” reporter on Saturday, speculation began about another part of that Twitter tirade.
Trump lashed out at the Times’ coverage of his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who is under investigation for possibly committing bank fraud and violating campaign finance rules, and in particular for a story citing sources that indicated Cohen might “flip” on him. Other than Haberman, Trump singled out “non-existent ‘sources’ and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family.”
The Times report, published Friday, includes quotes from Sam Nunberg, a former aide to his campaign — who describes how Cohen now has “leverage” over Trump, representing a new dynamic in their relationship. It also has a quote from Stone, a longtime political trickster who also served as an adviser to Trump’s campaign early on.
Haberman, the White House correspondent for the Times, said Trump’s “drunk/drugged up loser” was a reference to Nunberg, not Stone.
“A few things – Trump is referring to @NunbergSam in his tweet. He’s too aware of what Stone could do to him to be that direct. Also, Trump has been abusive to all his staffers at various points, but continues to greet @CLewandowski_ better than most,” she tweeted, using the handle for former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
Nunberg embarked on a wild media blitz last month, during which he was asked by a CNN anchor if he was drunk because she smelled alcohol on his breath.
Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara asked Haberman, on Twitter, “Donald Trump is afraid of Roger Stone?”
“For years”, Haberman replied.
For years https://t.co/IdvM2QP1j4
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 21, 2018
Stone told the Palm Beach Post the “drunk/drugged up loser” description was “Not a reference to me.” Meanwhile, Nunberg told CNN, “I have no idea who POTUS is talking about so I have no response.”
Stone later told the Washington Examiner in a brief exchange that Trump “has no reason to be afraid of me — I am his most loyal supporter.”
