Politics

Palin calls Alaska media ‘corrupt bastards’ over leaked voicemail

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called the media in her state “corrupt bastards” after employees of Anchorage CBS affiliate KTVA were apparently caught on audio discussing possible negative stories that could hurt the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Joe Miller.

The audio, released by Miller’s campaign, comes from a voicemail accidentally left on the phone of a Miller spokesman. Conversation includes KTVA reporters discussing whether they can find a Miller campaign supporter who is also a “registered sex offender.”

According to a transcript posted by Miller’s campaign, a female employee, speaking about an upcoming Miller rally, said: “We know that out of all the people that will show up tonight, at least one of them will be a registered sex offender.”

“You have to find that one person,” a male reporter responded, with laughter audible in the background.

The Miller campaign says assignment editor Nick McDermott texted an apology after realizing he left a voicemail: “Damn iPhone … I left you a long message.  I thought I hung up.  Sorry.”

Randy DeSoto, the spokesman whose phone the voicemail was left on, said in a statement that, “Frankly, when I first heard this I was shocked. Though a bit garbled at times, there are disturbing comments in this conservation that never should have occurred.”

In response to the audio, Palin called the media “bastards” and Tweeted that it illustrates “what I’ve put up [with] for 2 yrs.”

KTVA Vice President & General Manager Jerry Bever did not immediately return a request for comment.