WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s husband on Thursday called a book critical of his family “disgusting lies, innuendo and smears” as Mrs. Palin’s camp sought to discredit a racy biography that includes allegations of infidelity and drug use.
As Mrs. Palin weighs a White House bid, her husband released a statement seeking to blunt the fallout from Joe McGinniss’ “The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin.” Palin allies also released another denial from the man alleged to have carried on an affair with Mrs. Palin.
“This is a man who has been relentlessly stalking my family to the point of moving in right next door to us to harass us and spy on us to satisfy his creepy obsession with my wife,” Mr. Palin wrote of Mr. McGinniss. “His book is full of disgusting lies, innuendo and smears. Even the New York Times called this book ’dated, petty,’ and that it ’chases caustic, unsubstantiated gossip.’”
Mrs. Palin, the Republicans’ 2008 vice presidential nominee, made no new reference on her Facebook account to Mr. McGinniss’ book, although she previously mocked Mr. McGinniss for moving into a rented house next door to the Palin home.
“We’re sure to have a doozey to look forward to with this treasure he’s penning,” Mrs. Palin wrote last year. “Wonder what kind of material he’ll gather while overlooking Piper’s bedroom, my little garden and the family’s swimming hole?”
Mr. McGinniss’ book also repeats allegations first published in the National Enquirer that Mrs. Palin carried on an affair with Brad Hanson, Mr. Palin’s former business partner.
In a statement released through Palin allies, Mr. Hanson again denied the allegation.
“This is the same old story that went around in 2008. It is a complete and outright lie,” Mr. Hanson said. “Todd and Sarah Palin have been good friends for many years, and in fact we still own property together. We sold a former joint business venture for business reasons, nothing more. These attacks are shameful and those making them seem to be out only to destroy good people and make money doing so.”
Appearing on NBC’s “Today” show, Mr. McGinniss defended his reporting.
“I think I was as fair as I could possibly have been, given the fact that she told all the people who were closest to her not to talk to me,” he said.
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