This morning, we were provided a tip that state Representative Ritch Workman was a customer on AshleyMadison.com, the popular website for married people looking for affairs.
Since then, we have been flooded with inquiries, tips and false positives about other people involved in the Florida political process who might also be on the website.
Moreover, several people have called and asked, “Am I on the list?” To which I have responded, “I don’t know, are you???”
Late this afternoon, we were tipped that a major, non-elected official could be found in the data. We followed through on this tip and confirmed its veracity.
A story about this person is in draft form in our content management system.
My mouse has been off and on the “Publish” button for more than an hour.
However, on second thought, and after discussing the issue with my wife Michelle, my other closest advisers and some of the reporters here at Extensive Enterprises Media, I have decided that we will not be publishing any more stories that involve non-elected officials showing up in the Ashley Madison data dump.
Go ahead, Tallahassee, breathe a sigh of relief.
Five years ago, I would have tripped over myself in a rush to publish this story. it would have been click-bait heaven. But now, when I am more a publisher than a blogger, I don’t want to be Gawker.
It’s debatable whether or not this person is a public figure. Some would say yes, some would say no. But that’s not the point. This is not about that person.
This is about me.
Two years ago, I was accused by the Tampa Bay Times of being not much more than a pay-for-play shakedown artist. I knew then as I do now that I am not. And even though I was exonerated after an investigation, that cloud has hung over me — even if I am the only one who still sees it.
Maybe this atones for whatever was at the heart of that accusation.
At a moment when I could have clicked my mouse and destroyed a life, the only thing I asked for from this person is to be more courteous to me in the future.
All of this said, to my friends and enemies on Adams Street and in the Capitol Press Corps, some of you need to go home tonight and get your houses in order. Just because I did not publish what I know doesn’t mean someone else won’t. And some of you are into some freaky sh*t.
