Politico’s Mike Allen Promised to Give ‘No-Risk’ Interview to Chelsea Clinton

In emails obtained by Gawker through Freedom of Information Act requests, Politico chief White House correspondent Mike Allen promised to not to ask any difficult questions of former presidential daughter Chelsea Clinton if she gave him an interview.

Allen was emailing Hillary Clinton aide and State Department employee Philippe Reines to ask if Chelsea would be willing to be interviewed for a brunch held by Politico. But the assurances Allen granted went far beyond typical journalistic practice. Allen promised he and Reines would “agree on [questions] precisely in advance,” and that the interview would be “no-surprises.”

“I would work with you on topics, and would start with anything she wants to cover or make news on,” Allen promised. “Quicker than a network hit, and reaching an audience you care about with no risk.”

In a follow-up email, Allen reiterated that the interview would be “no-risk” and that the Clintons would pick the topics beforehand: “I think this is something she would like: a way to send a message on a big weekend, but in a no-risk way, since they know I would stick to topics we agree on.”

Just under a year ago, The New York Times revealed that Allen apologized to the Clinton campaign after he asked Bill Clinton an unexpected question during a Politico Playbook Cocktails event. “I had misunderstood the parameters, and I’m very sorry about that,” he said.

[Image via Politico]
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