2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumDo we know who leaked the Access Hollywood Tape?
Much is being made of the fact that the Obama Administration's release of news about Russian interfering with our election to help Trump occurred on the day the AH tape was released. This fact is being blamed for the Russian story getting so little attention.
Am I too much of a conspiracy theorist to wonder if the Access Hollywood tape was released for just that purpose?
The story was that the tapes were being considered for release, but NBC was afraid to release them for fear of getting sued, and then mysteriously some brave soul delivered them to the Washington Post. Ta Da.
If you knew the tape was likely to come out at some point, and you knew about this pending Russian story that could really kill your chances - is it crazy to think you might just release the tape, thinking you could probably weather that storm?
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)Then went and looked for it. It's not the same people as worked on the Apprentice. There was talk it was delayed a few days and someone rushed it due to timing.
emulatorloo
(45,567 posts)I remember reading a story where a spokesperson for access Hollywood said they were reviewing their archival Trump footage after an article by AP came out regarding Trump's on-set behavior towards women on The Apprentice show.
Thats when they found the clip. I don't recall the spokesperson said that they leaked the clip. but that is my assumption or why else talk about the review and finding it.
Sorry no link it has been a while.
However here is a link to the AP story that prompted Access Hollywood to review their trump archive:
AP: 'Apprentice' cast and crew say Trump was lewd and sexist
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2778a6ab72ea49558445337865289508/ap-how-trumps-apprentice-moved-capitalism-sexism
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As to the second part of your theory (NBC afraid of being sued) you may be thinking about the incriminating Apprentice footage discussed in the AP story.
NBC doesn't own the Apprentice footage.
Mark Burnett, the producer of the Apprentice, owns it.
He threatened his employees if they were even thinking about leaking it.
Article here:
Mark Burnett Clamps Down on The Apprentice Staff Over Donald Trump Leaks
Staffers on the reality show say its creator is pressuring them to keep quiet about Donald Trumps piggish behavior on set.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/11/02/mark-burnett-clamps-down-on-the-apprentice-staff-over-donald-trump-leaks.html