The Mirror

Charles Johnson Is In Hungary Trying To Get Nick Denton Arrested

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Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
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“If you like cheap good beer, cheap good looking women, and cheap good lodgings might I recommend Hungary?”

That’s GotNews Editor-in-Chief Charles Johnson, who is in Budapest this week digging up information on Gawker founder Nick Denton. His purpose: To put him in prison. Johnson’s charge: money laundering.

“It should be fun, man,” he told The Mirror in a phone conversation. “Right?”

Johnson, who later sent me his flight itinerary on condition that I wouldn’t publish it, said he’s taking along his “team” — which consists of three people — to deliver alleged documents to the Hungarian government.

“Basically he’s fucked,” he said. “It’s all over for him.”

Gawker Media was incorporated in Budapest and has had a facility there.

The Mirror sought comment from Denton.

Johnson, who previously tried to sue Gawker until Denton filed for bankruptcy and returned the favor with a countersuit, said his motive is not only revenge. Although it’s undeniably in the mix. Gawker, after all, suggested in a post that Johnson “shit the floor” in college, urinated in his girlfriend’s mouth and engaged in some other gross activities.

Johnson wants compensation for his aggravation. “If I’m successful, I make a lot of money,” he said. “The U.S. and Hungary have a bounty system. I think Denton can expect a visit from the IRS guys.”

Here’s his big claim: “He basically had a great money laundering operation,” he said.

Johnson has never been to Hungary before this week. To prepare for the trip he skipped a Lonely Planet guidebook and said he planned to check out CNN.

“I don’t know, I’ll probably watch Anthony Bourdain,” he said.