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BREAKING: CBS News Fires Former ABC News Employee Who They Claimed Leaked Amy Robach’s Epstein Video to Project Veritas, Real Leaker Responds
Cassandra Fairbanks
CBS News has fired a former ABC News employee who they believed leaked the hot mic video of Amy Robach discussing how the network killed her story about Jeffrey Epstein three years ago during the 2016 election.
8 November, 2019
However,
the person they fired, Ashley Bianco, maintains that she didn’t do
it. Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe has also denied that she
was their source.
The
ABC News Epstein investigation, which included photos and an
interview with one of his victims, had implicated Bill Clinton and
Prince Andrew. “It was unbelievable… we had – Clinton, we had
everything…” Robach is heard saying in the video.
The
release shook ABC News to the core and launched a witch hunt against
the whistleblower who was responsible for making the video public.
In
a letter published on Project
Veritas,
the actual leaker uses the name Ignotus to
explain why he did what he did.
“I came forward with this information bearing no motives other than to have this information public. I did not and do not seek any personal gain from this information whether it be financial or otherwise and will always decline. When I became aware of this moment, I had the same reaction as many of you did. Anger, confusion and sadness. I care not about petty political quarrels and only hope for the best in all of us,” they wrote.
Ignotus
also addresses his former coworkers, saying “I’ve walked the
halls experiencing similar feelings we are all having right now. All
of you regardless of your own personal differences in one form or
another do an outstanding job. I sincerely enjoy working with each
and every one of you and will continue to do so throughout our
careers.”
To
the woman who was wrongfully fired, the leaker wrote “it is
terrible that you have been lashed out at by the company. I know some
may put the burden of guilt on me, but my conscience is clear. The
actions of the company towards you are the result of their own and
not anyone else. The public outcry, from coast to coast, of all
people, creeds, and political affiliations, is clear. I have not one
doubt that there will always be support for you, and you will have
prosperous careers. For neither you, nor I, have done anything
wrong.”
Addressing
Robach personally, he wrote “You are the only person deserving of
an apology. I am most certainly sorry. Not for my actions or for this
to center around you, but for what is clear to have happened. When I
first stumbled across this, my initial reaction was outrage. But this
soon turned towards empathy. I can not imagine doing all the hard
work to only have it shelved. If the past few years have taught us
anything, it is the truth that some of us have endured many hardships
in this industry. From the spiking of stories regarding prominent and
powerful people in this world, and to yours. I believe you are an
outstanding reporter and have done such tremendous work in the
community as well.”
The
whistleblower did not have kind words for ABC News, however.
“I sit right here with you all in complete shock. I, like many, are at a loss for words on how this has been handled. Instead of addressing this head-on like the company has in the past, it has spun into a mission of seek-and-destroy. Innocent people that have absolutely nothing to do with this are being hunted down as if we are all a sport. I challenge all of you to actually look inwards and remember why this company engages in journalism. We all hold the First Amendment at the foundation of this company, yet forget its history, its purpose, and its reasoning for even coming into existence to begin with. How lost we are… yearning to be found. I went to Project Veritas for the sole reason that any other media outlet else would have probably shelved this as well. I thank all of them, and James, for seeking truth,” he wrote.
The
network claimed that the three year old interview, with photos and
evidence, was not up to their “editorial standards.” They have
still not aired it.
Independent
journalist Yashar Ali had reported on Wednesday that “ABC News
executives believe they know the identity of the former employee who
accessed the footage of Amy Robach.” The source was fired by CBS
the next day.
From Project Veritas
released the Amy Robach
Epstein tape.
Project Veritas,
8 November, 2019
Editors Note: Project Veritas is publishing the writing below at the request of the ABC news insider who gave us the Amy Robach tape.
This
was submitted to us in light of the actions taken against those
wrongfully identified as involved in the leaking of the tape and the
reactions of ABC news to their spiking of the story on Jeffrey
Epstein.
By Ignotus,
To
my fellow man:
I
came forward with this information bearing no motives other than to
have this information public. I did not and do not seek any personal
gain from this information whether it be financial or otherwise and
will always decline. When I became aware of this moment, I had the
same reaction as many of you did. Anger, confusion and sadness. I
care not about petty political quarrels and only hope for the best in
all of us.
To
my fellow ABC News employees:
I’ve
walked the halls experiencing similar feelings we are all having
right now. All of you regardless of your own personal differences in
one form or another do an outstanding job. I sincerely enjoy working
with each and every one of you and will continue to do so throughout
our careers.
To
those wrongfully accused:
It
is terrible that you have been lashed out at by the company. I know
some may put the burden of guilt on me, but my conscience is clear.
The actions of the company towards you are the result of their own
and not anyone else. The public outcry, from coast to coast, of all
people, creeds, and political affiliations, is clear. I have not one
doubt that there will always be support for you, and you will have
prosperous careers. For neither you, nor I, have done anything wrong.
To
Amy Robach:
You
are the only person deserving of an apology. I am most certainly
sorry. Not for my actions or for this to center around you, but for
what is clear to have happened. When I first stumbled across this, my
initial reaction was outrage. But this soon turned towards empathy. I
can not imagine doing all the hard work to only have it shelved. If
the past few years have taught us anything, it is the truth that some
of us have endured many hardships in this industry. From the spiking
of stories regarding prominent and powerful people in this world, and
to yours. I believe you are an outstanding reporter and have done
such tremendous work in the community as well.
To
ABC News:
I
sit right here with you all in complete shock. I, like many, are at a
loss for words on how this has been handled. Instead of addressing
this head-on like the company has in the past, it has spun into a
mission of seek-and-destroy. Innocent people that have absolutely
nothing to do with this are being hunted down as if we are all a
sport. I challenge all of you to actually look inwards and remember
why this company engages in journalism. We all hold the First
Amendment at the foundation of this company, yet forget its history,
its purpose, and its reasoning for even coming into existence
to begin with. How lost we are… yearning to be found. I went to
Project Veritas for the sole reason that any other media outlet else
would have probably shelved this as well. I thank all of them, and
James, for seeking truth.
We
are all human and mortal, creatures of mistakes and redemption.
The
road to redemption favors no soul.
Sincerely,
Ignotus
And DailyMail.com can reveal the staffer is Ashley Bianco, 25, an Emmy-winning producer for CBS This Morning, who contacted the former Fox News star directly in order to have her voice heard, a source said.
Bianco was fired from CBS on Thursday after the network was informed by her old employer ABC that she had 'leaked' the footage of Robach ranting about ABC shutting down her Epstein story out of concern of pushback from the British royal family.
Kelly teased her interview on Twitter on Friday, writing she was launching an Instagram page and YouTube channel and had a 'feeling you’ll be interested in my first post.'
The interview will be Kelly's first step in making her comeback since she parted ways with NBC where she had signed a $69 million deal.
Bianco attended Emory University and worked as a producer on Good Morning America at ABC for three years, according to public records and social media. Robach co-anchors the morning show.
When contacted for comment, Bianco hung up on DailyMail.com. Following her firing, Bianco has removed her social media.
On Tuesday, Project Veritas published a video it obtained of Robach in a discussion with her producer about the nixed story back in August, venting: 'I've had this interview for years. I've had this interview with Virginia Roberts. We would not put it on the air.'
The 46-year-old was referring to Jeffrey Epstein's underage sex slave who accused the pedophile of lending her out for sex with his friends, including Prince Andrew.
Robach said ABC didn't let the story go to air because the palace threatened to sue the network and there were concerns Prince William and Kate Middleton would no longer grant ABC any interviews.
There has been a good deal of backlash against ABC ever since the video first emerged, with many people pointing out that none of the network's news programs have mentioned the story.
CBS is also facing backlash for firing Bianco after ABC informed its counterparts at the network that Bianco was responsible for the leak and was now working for their news division, according to journalist Yashar Ali.
The interview will be Kelly's first step in making her comeback since she parted ways with NBC where she had signed a $69 million deal hosting the third hour
The hot mic video was also recorded just two months after ABC News president James Goldston was pictured dining with Prince Charles and President Trump at Winfield House during the administration's state visit to London back in June.
Then-Prime Minister Theresa May and Sarah Huckabee Sanders were also seated at the same table as the three men.
Robach is visibly frustrated in the video, as she details having filmed the interview with Roberts years before Epstein's arrest.
'I've had the story for three years. I've had this interview with Virginia Roberts. We would not put it on the air,' says Robach at the start of the video.
'First of all I was told, "Who's Jeffrey Epstein? No one knows who that is this is, this is a stupid story."'
There were also legal issues too she reveals and concerns about possible backlash.
'Then the palace found out that we had her whole allegations about Prince Andrew and threatened to sue us a million different ways,' explains Robach.
'We were so afraid we wouldn't be able to interview Kate and Will, so I think that had also quashed the story.'
The footage of Robach was released on Tuesday, where she vented that ABC didn't air her interview with Virginia Roberts, a sex slave of Jeffrey Epstein's. Roberts has accused Epstein of lending her out for sex with his friends while she was underage, including to Prince Andrew
'Then the palace found out that we had her whole allegations about Prince Andrew and threatened to sue us a million different ways,' Robach explains.
'We were so afraid we wouldn't be able to interview Kate and Will, so I think that had also quashed the story.
'And then Alan Dershowitz was also implicated because of the planes.'
Dershowitz, Epstein's former lawyer, who flew on the so-called 'Lolita Express', according to flight logs. In legal documents Roberts claimed to have had sex with Dershowitz on the jet with another girl present. He has denied the claims.
A clearly frustrated Robach goes on to detail what the interview entailed at the time she was trying to get it on air.
'[Virginia] told me everything. She had picture, she had everything. She was in hiding for 12 years, we convinced her to come out. We convinced her to talk to us,' Robach says.
'It was unbelievable what we had. [Bill] Clinton. We had everything. I tried for three years to get it on to no avail.
'And now it's all coming out and it's like these new revelations and I freaking had all of it. I I'm so pissed right now like every day I get more and more pissed cause I'm just like, oh my god, what we had was unreal.'
Robach also said that at the time, one of the attorneys for the victims said: 'There will come a time when we will realize Jeffrey Epstein was the most prolific pedophile this country has ever known.' She then adds: 'And I had it all three years ago.'
Robach was speaking in the wake of Epstein's death, which she gave her opinion about as well while speaking to her producer.
'So do I think he was killed? 100% Yes, I do,' Robach says.
She notes that Epstein 'made his whole living blackmailing people,' before stating: 'There were a lot of men in those planes. A lot of men who visited that Island, a lot of powerful men who came into that apartment.'
There is then a call for other members of the media to share any video or recordings they might have that shows outlets choosing not to run stories about Epstein.
'Project Veritas intends to continue its investigation into corruption in the Mainstream Media,' the non-profit activist group stated.
'We encourage that Brave insiders at these organizations come forward with any information they have, so that the public knows what is really going on within these media companies.'
Robach also released a statement on Tuesday.
'As a journalist, as the Epstein story continued to unfold last summer, I was caught in a private moment of frustration. I was upset that an important interview I had conducted with Virginia Roberts didn’t air because we could not obtain sufficient corroborating evidence to meet ABC’s editorial standards about her allegations,' said Robach in a statement after the release of the video.
'My comments about Prince Andrew and her allegation that she had seen Bill Clinton on Epstein’s private island were in reference to what Virginia Roberts said in that interview in 2015. I was referencing her allegations – not what ABC News had verified through our reporting.'
She then added: 'The interview itself, while I was disappointed it didn’t air, didn’t meet our standards. In the years since no one ever told me or the team to stop reporting on Jeffrey Epstein, and we have continued to aggressively pursue this important story.'
The Duke of York has vehemently denied Roberts' allegations, which were struck from the record by a judge in legal proceedings in 2015 as being ‘immaterial and impertinent’.
