I think the Washington Post is the first MSM outlet to cover this story.
David Weigel writes: OSHKOSH, Wis. – Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) blamed “Donald Trump and his henchmen” for planting a National Enquirer story that accused him of extramarital affairs. Vehemently denying the story as “garbage” and “complete and utter lies,” the Republican presidential hopeful took his longest step yet toward refusing to back Trump if he won the party’s nomination…
On Friday, after a crowded rally at a parking cone factory here, and after attacking Trump from the stage for his tweets, Cruz himself brought up the Enquirer’s story that accused the senator of having had five mistresses – a subject some of the reporters covering him were loath to even raise. “It became clear as the campaign went on that Donald was a whole lot of sizzle without any substance,” said Cruz. “When he’s scared, when he’s losing, his first and natural resort is to go to sleaze and to go to slime.”
That was how Cruz introduced the subject of the Enquirer story, which alleged that the candidate had carried out affairs with five women – women who bloggers and political activists were starting to “identify” as prominent political pundits. The story had bubbled up on social media, with the hashtag #TedCruzSexScandal appearing in tweets that asked reporters to follow the story.
The Post has not been able to confirm any of the allegations made by the Enquirer…
hen Cruz opened the floor to questions, each was about the allegations. First, addressing the inevitable “pledge” to back Trump if he won, Cruz said that he didn’t “make a habit” of supporting people who smeared his family. Then a local reporter seemed to irritate Cruz by asking if both he and Trump were “childish” and degrading the tone of the campaign.
“Sir, let’s be clear,” said Cruz. “One person has been childish, and that’s been Donald Trump.”
“I’m watching it every day,” said the reporter. “Both of you are going back and forth with this childish stuff.”
“Sir, I understand that the media the game wants to play is when Donald attacks my family to say that everyone is guilty,” said Cruz. “I have never attacked Donald’s family. I do not intend to. Indeed, when Donald sent a second tweet attacking my wife, I responded by saying ‘Donald, real men don’t attack women. Your wife is lovely.’ So not only did I not attack his wife, I praised his wife. Heidi is the love of my life. I’m sorry, sir, if you believe that defending your wife and defending your family is childish. But it is not.”
Cruz tried to wrestle the subject back to Trump’s refusal to debate him, accusing him of “hiding in Trump Tower” instead of campaigning in Wisconsin. (Indeed, on March 29, Trump will make his first public appearance of any kind since his March 21 speech to the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee.)
“He sits in Trump Tower and sends tweets late at night,” said Cruz. “We need a president who is fighting for the people of America and not battling his personal demons on Twitter.”
Cruz turned and left the news conference, ignoring a shouted question that seemed to say everything about what Trump had done to the campaign’s tone.
“Senator Cruz, have you been faithful to your wife?”
