Media Mythbusters Blog

Cross-posted at Confederate Yankee:

Drudge scooped me (arrgghhh!) with two documents related to the Beauchamp/TNR story. I had asked for them in a FOIA request submitted more than a month ago to the U.S. Army. Those documents including a transcript of the call between Scott Beauchamp, TNR editor Franklin Foer, and TNR executive editor Peter Scoblic on September 7. I first wrote about the conversation itself previously.

The other document was the Army’s official report, which I first discussed with the investigating officer, Major John Cross, on September 10.

Knowing the documents exist is one thing; having them is quite another. Now that they have been posted on the public record, these disclosures should end careers at The New Republic.

Have at it:

Transcript, Part 1

Transcript, Part 2

Army Investigation

As always, Allahpundit is on top of the story over at Hot Air, so I’ll send you over there for analysis until I can delve into the story again in more detail.

I would ask one question before I go, though:

Did Foer really get an email from Beauchamps’ wife during the conference call, or was it merely the lie of a desperate editor trying futilely to save his job?

We know that Beauchamp had his cell phone and laptop returned to him after his op-sec violation investigation was over, which he could use every day when he was not working.

If Foer was bluffing, Beauchamp probably knew it in advance.

Update: A huge apology to Michael Goldfarb. If he hadn’t had the sharp eyes to note probable fiction and ask for help from the blogosphere back in July, there is every possibility that Beauchamp’s false narratives would have gone unchallenged as “”truth.” The story started with Mike, and continues there today.