In an effort to clear his journalistic name, Rob Capriccioso published the alleged emails between him and Trent Lott’s rumored lover, Benjamin Nicholas.
Capriccioso claims, of course, that the long-lasting Senator Lott retired yesterday because he feared being outed as a boy renter. While Lott didn’t address the gay gossip, Nicholas flat-out denied being involved with Lott.
There’s no telling whether or not Capriccioso fabricated the aforementioned emails, for they’re nothing more than typed up text, rather than screen snaps. Among the scintillating and dubious details, however, comes “news” that it was Gawker, not prime suspect Hustler, that originally contacted Nicholas about the Lott scandal. “Nicholas” writes:
I was contacted by Gawker this morning ([Nick] Denton is a friend of mine). He’s hot to get an exclusive interview about the possible relationship between the two of us, but I politely declined. As I said before, Lott has quite a bit on his plate right now and I don’t really want to add fuel to the embers.
Too late.
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Despite not wanting to go on record yesterday, Nicholas reportedly sent Capriccioso the following missive this morning: “Sen. Lott and I have no current affiliation with one another. I’m sure he would appreciate no further scrutiny.” Speaking of scrutiny: “no current affiliation”?
Read the entire exchange, after the jump…
Update: Capriccioso provided this screen shot of his exchange with Nicholas.
From Big Head NYC:
MESSAGE ONE:
from Rob Capriccioso
to [email protected],
date Nov 26, 2007 2:08 PM
subject From Big Head DC
mailed-by gmail.com
Hi Benjamin,
I’m an editor with Big Head DC in Washington. A commenter on the site recently said that you and Sen. Trent Lott happened to be vacationing together at the same place on a couple of separate occasions. Could you clarify whether you know Sen. Lott in any way?
I appreciate your help.
All the best,
Rob
–
Rob Capriccioso | Publisher & Founding Editor | Big Head DC
MESSAGE ONE RESPONSE:
from Benjamin Nicholas
reply-to Benjamin Nicholas ,
to Rob Capriccioso ,
date Nov 26, 2007 2:18 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by benjaminnicholas.com
No comment
––
http://www.BenjaminNicholas.com
http://www.15MinutesMore.com
MESSAGE TWO:
from Rob Capriccioso
to Benjamin Nicholas ,
date Nov 26, 2007 2:21 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by gmail.com
Totally off the record, can you explain why you have no comment?
Rob
MESSAGE TWO RESPONSE:
from Benjamin Nicholas
reply-to Benjamin Nicholas ,
to Rob Capriccioso ,
date Nov 26, 2007 2:23 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by benjaminnicholas.com
I’m a blogger as well, so I’m well aware that nothing in this world is ever truly ‘off-record.’
Trent is going through his fair share of scrutiny right now and I don’t want to add to it. All I can say at this point is no comment. It’s the professional thing for me to do.
MESSAGE THREE:
from Rob Capriccioso
to Benjamin Nicholas ,
date Nov 26, 2007 2:29 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by gmail.com
I definitely understand what you’re saying about commenting into the blogosphere, Benjamin, and have had it happen to me before. I’m just trying to establish whether you personally know Sen. Lott. A couple of people tipping Big Head DC suggested I contact you, so I thought I’d take a shot. I’m definitely not asking whether you were ever in a relationship with him. Have you been contacted by others about knowing him?
Rob
MESSAGE THREE RESPONSE:
from Benjamin Nicholas
reply-to Benjamin Nicholas ,
to Rob Capriccioso ,
date Nov 26, 2007 2:37 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by benjaminnicholas.com
Yes. I was contacted by Gawker this morning ([Nick] Denton is a friend of mine). He’s hot to get an exclusive interview about the possible relationship between the two of us, but I politely declined. As I said before, Lott has quite a bit on his plate right now and I don’t really want to add fuel to the embers.
BN
––
http://www.BenjaminNicholas.com
http://www.15MinutesMore.com
MESSAGE FOUR:
from Rob Capriccioso
to Benjamin Nicholas ,
date Nov 26, 2007 2:42 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by gmail.com
How did anyone get it in their heads that you even knew Lott?
NO RESPONSE FROM NICHOLAS
Hours later, after we did much more investigating and our piece ultimately went live, Nicholas sent a final message:
from Benjamin Nicholas
reply-to Benjamin Nicholas ,
to Rob Capriccioso ,
date Nov 26, 2007 5:32 PM
subject Re: From Big Head DC
mailed-by benjaminnicholas.com
Off-the-record, eh? Sheesh.
Here’s my public comment, on-the-record: Sen. Lott and I have no current affiliation with one another. I’m sure he would appreciate no further scrutiny.
There’s no story here Rob.
BN
––
http://www.BenjaminNicholas.com
http://www.15MinutesMore.com
END OF E-MAILS
jack jett
here is the response i got when i was trying to score….an interview..not a date.
Greetings Jack,
While I appreciate the consideration, I am seriously baffled by all of this sudden attention regarding a non-existant relationship between myself and Sen. Lott.
I’m not sure where all of these alleged quotes came from, but they’re not from my mouth.
Benjamin Nicholas
—–
http://www.BenjaminNicholas.com
http://www.15MinutesMore.com
hisurfer
Alternate lead: “In an effort to clear his journalistic name, Rob Capriccioso violates journalistic ethics by posting a conversation he promised was ‘off-the-record.’ It doesn’t matter if the other guy accepted the offer or not; once a journalist says “this is off the record” the conversation is then off the record.
I’ve never heard of Big Head DC before. This guy didn’t clear his name; he introduced it & it was covered in muck.
Anonymous
Looks like BHDC is going to need to now provide PROOF of their quotes, saying there were ‘two seperate’ occasions that Nicholas and Lott met. For now, these supposed messages aren’t proof of anything other than BHDC’s ability to perhaps fabricate email conversation.
Dean
What about the plagiarism scandal that Ben was involved in? Doesn’t that put doubt on his credibility? http://mc.daddysreviews.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=109153&mesg_id=109153&listing_type=search
hells kitchen guy
And Capriciosso is also now trying to get the $1 million Larry Flynt offered for anyone catching a GOP big in a compromising situation.
So he’s an unreliable sleazebag.
Tom Bacchus
Honey, never trust a whore. They always lie.
Particularly about their fat ugly saggy-faced lying Rethuglican clients.
fanboi
publishing the “off the record” portion is definitely sketchy…
morad
gay
Jim
interesting new developments, years later:
http://15minutesmore.com/blog/