Energy

WIKILEAKS: Podesta Lays Into Billionaire Donor — ‘I Didn’t Expect To Get F***ed By You’

REUTERS/Gary Cameron/Files

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Michael Bastasch DCNF Managing Editor
Font Size:

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager John Podesta was furious with liberal billionaire Tom Steyer for apparently throwing the former secretary of state under bus in a New York Times article, according to leaked emails.

“I am deep in the middle of dealing with getting fucked by the NYT, but I didn’t expect to get fucked by you in the NYT,” Podesta wrote to Steyer in July 2015. “Thanks a lot for jumping us. I hope President Bush helps you reach your climate goals.”

Podesta was likely referring to a NYT story on how support from Steyer’s environmental group, NextGen Climate Action, came “with a big catch” — they have to eliminate all US greenhouse gas by 2050.

The NYT then goes on to report Steyer’s “campaign appears aimed at urging Mrs. Clinton to embrace” his global warming goals, adding that while “Mrs. Clinton has said that she intends to focus on climate change as a central issue, she has yet to lay out a specific policy.”

Podesta apparently saw this as being thrown under the bus by one of Clinton’s wealthiest supporters.

“John–have now read the paper. Didn’t think Next Gen article was bad for you guys,” Steyer responded, trying to bring Podesta around.

“You and I have different perspectives. I wish you luck,” Podesta shot back.

“Check the polling we released,” Steyer wrote back. “This is very popular w the American people. And then check the scientific news. This issue is blowing up. It is by far the most urgent issue in my home state. 48 percent rank it at number 1.”

Steyer has spent millions trying to make global warming a top tier issue in U.S. elections. The former hedge fund manager spent about $73 million supporting Democrats and attacking Republicans in the 2014 midterm elections.

The heated email exchange was one of thousands released by WikiLeaks from Podesta’s hacked Gmail account. Steyer is featured in several of the emails’ including one from 2008 suggesting he’d be appointed to head up the Department of Energy.

In the run up to the July 2015 email, Podesta seemed to have big plans for Steyer. Campaign staffers suggested giving Steyer a title to get him to work harder to get Clinton elected, according to an April 2015 email.

In that same email, Podesta and the campaign discussed how Steyer could be most useful to Clinton, debating whether he should focus on independent expenditures from his super PAC or hosting a fundraiser for her.

Steyer hosted a Clinton fundraiser at his San Francisco home in May 2015.

Follow Michael on Facebook and Twitter

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.