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Outing an FBI CHS sounds like something not to do lightly, even though there might be public interest in knowing some complicated entanglements that might need

by neilv 3y ago

Outing an FBI CHS sounds like something not to do lightly, even though there might be public interest in knowing some complicated entanglements that might need oversight. > In a written statement to Insider, [...] Johnson said that he was exposing Thiel's work as a CHS as retribution [...] They actually wrote "retribution". Sounds like an additional hint that outing might not be OK. Can a seasoned journalist say what the professional guidelines are here?

eduction 3y ago
You would balance the public interest in the revelation against the possible harm. Best guess is they see the harm as minor as 1. It is not revealed who Thiel was informing on and 2. To the extent a target could guess, Thiel is very well equipped to protect himself from physical threats. Further, it doesn’t seem Johnson is implying physical retribution, it seems more like (arguably) he’s trying to expose what he sees as some sort of ideological hypocrisy. So any harm would be reputational (and debatable) if that’s the case. Many sources for news articles act out of self interest, whether to benefit themselves or hurt an enemy, so that would not be inherently disqualifying. (Not endorsing the presumed logic just describing it.)
donkeyd 3y ago
You comment made me do a bit of research. Apparently the owner of Insider is Axel Springer, which in Germany is compared to Fox News. So I guess that pretty much answers the question (to me at least).
- ruune 3y ago
  Wouldn't jump to conclusions that fast tbh. BILD, Springers biggest brand, might be comparable to Fox, but Springer has more reputable stuff too. Politico was bought by them too
baryphonic 3y ago
>> In a written statement to Insider, [...] Johnson said that he was exposing Thiel's work as a CHS as retribution [...] > They actually wrote "retribution". Sounds like an additional hint that outing might not be OK. Charles C. Johnson has a very colorful history. Rep. Matt Gaetz (also in the news lately) invited him to the State of the Union in 2018 after which multiple outlets reported on Johnson's Holocaust denier past and his other activities.[0][1] In my opinion, I wouldn't trust Johnson or let him know any real secrets – damaging or not – about me. I'm a bit surprised Thiel would trust him – seems like a blunder that he typically doesn't make. The rest of the article is a hit piece with a bunch of guilt-by-association attacks against Thiel, but Johnson is curiously spared from having his past brought up. [0] https://floridaphoenix.com/blog/matt-gaetz-once-again-hangs-out-with-holocaust-denier-charles-johnson/ https://floridaphoenix.com/blog/matt-gaetz-once-again-hangs-... [1]https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/02/09/spurned-milton-race-baiting-troll-has-found-acceptance-trump/jk2YPROcjHz8OPLMrj3zFL/story.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/02/09/spurned...
- ttyprintk 3y ago
  This is the story within the story. Maybe Johnson went to the press to legitimize his name among search terms. Maybe he’s the kind of guy you put on boards to move sums of money around.

by neilv 3y ago

eduction 3y ago

You would balance the public interest in the revelation against the possible harm. Best guess is they see the harm as minor as 1. It is not revealed who Thiel was informing on and 2. To the extent a target could guess, Thiel is very well equipped to protect himself from physical threats. Further, it doesn’t seem Johnson is implying physical retribution, it seems more like (arguably) he’s trying to expose what he sees as some sort of ideological hypocrisy. So any harm would be reputational (and debatable) if that’s the case. Many sources for news articles act out of self interest, whether to benefit themselves or hurt an enemy, so that would not be inherently disqualifying. (Not endorsing the presumed logic just describing it.)

donkeyd 3y ago

You comment made me do a bit of research. Apparently the owner of Insider is Axel Springer, which in Germany is compared to Fox News. So I guess that pretty much answers the question (to me at least).

ruune 3y ago
Wouldn't jump to conclusions that fast tbh. BILD, Springers biggest brand, might be comparable to Fox, but Springer has more reputable stuff too. Politico was bought by them too

baryphonic 3y ago

>> In a written statement to Insider, [...] Johnson said that he was exposing Thiel's work as a CHS as retribution [...] > They actually wrote "retribution". Sounds like an additional hint that outing might not be OK. Charles C. Johnson has a very colorful history. Rep. Matt Gaetz (also in the news lately) invited him to the State of the Union in 2018 after which multiple outlets reported on Johnson's Holocaust denier past and his other activities.[0][1] In my opinion, I wouldn't trust Johnson or let him know any real secrets – damaging or not – about me. I'm a bit surprised Thiel would trust him – seems like a blunder that he typically doesn't make. The rest of the article is a hit piece with a bunch of guilt-by-association attacks against Thiel, but Johnson is curiously spared from having his past brought up. [0] https://floridaphoenix.com/blog/matt-gaetz-once-again-hangs-out-with-holocaust-denier-charles-johnson/ https://floridaphoenix.com/blog/matt-gaetz-once-again-hangs-... [1]https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/02/09/spurned-milton-race-baiting-troll-has-found-acceptance-trump/jk2YPROcjHz8OPLMrj3zFL/story.html https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2018/02/09/spurned...

ttyprintk 3y ago
This is the story within the story. Maybe Johnson went to the press to legitimize his name among search terms. Maybe he’s the kind of guy you put on boards to move sums of money around.