WaPo opinion editor tells angry staff they could resign over Bezos' endorsement decision during tense meeting

The apical sentiment editor astatine The Washington Post had a frank speech pinch his unit fuming complete nan determination to not make a statesmanlike endorsement, telling them they could resign if they cannot travel to position pinch it.

The Washington Free Beacon obtained a recording of a tense gathering Monday led by The Post's editorial page editor David Shipley. According to nan Free Beacon, Shipley told nan sentiment staffers they were free to definitive their dissent but yet determine whether they are capable to enactment aliases go. 

"Whatever you decide, I’m bully pinch it," Shipley said. "What I really do want to impart is that you do not get stuck successful nan middle. Don't beryllium present if you don't want to."

Shipley told nan unit he "made very strenuous efforts" to person The Post's billionaire proprietor Jeff Bezos to reverse nan determination via telephone call, yet failing to do so. 

WAPO COLUMNIST CALLS OUT JEFF BEZOS' ‘BULLS--- EXPLANATION’ ON NON-ENDORSEMENT: ‘BENDING THE KNEEE’ TO TRUMP

Washington Post editorial page editor David Shipley told his unit to either judge nan determination not to endorse a statesmanlike campaigner aliases resign from nan insubstantial during a tense meeting.  (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

He compared nan determination to a "bomb" that "went off, and now we are picking up nan pieces." He complained astatine nan gathering that Bezos was destroying The Post's estimation arsenic an "independent journalistic organization" and opposed nan timing of nan decision, noting really it could beryllium interpreted by readers.  

Shipley was asked whether Bezos expressed who The Post should endorse. He replied "I’m not going to opportunity who he expressed a desire for aliases supported, because that’s conscionable not my place."

"One point that can’t hap successful this state is for Trump to get different 4 years," 1 editor said astatine nan meeting, per nan Free Beacon. 

Washington Post sentiment writer Drew Goins reportedly suggested a measurement to circumvent nan determination is to people an editorial denouncing erstwhile President Trump without calling it an "endorsement" for Vice President Kamala Harris.

WASHINGTON POST NEWSROOM IN UPROAR OVER JEFF BEZOS' ‘TONE-DEAF’ OP-ED DEFENDING NON-ENDORSEMENT, STAFFER SAYS

"Could we, tomorrow, travel retired arsenic an editorial committee and say, again, Trump is simply a threat to nan republic, Kamala Harris is by acold nan amended choice, it is important to ballot successful nan election, we impulse you to spell retired and vote? Does nan committee person nan independency to opportunity that, without utilizing nan connection ‘endorsement?’" Goins asked.

"I deliberation I was laboring nether a misunderstanding of really editorial boards activity until Friday," Goins later said. "I was beautiful taken aback by specified a nonstop involution successful nan committee from nan owner."

Washington Post proprietor Jeff Bezos wrote successful an op-ed that his determination to halt statesmanlike endorsements was based connected nan deficiency of spot successful nan bequest media. ((Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)

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Several staffers expressed concerns complete nan power Bezos whitethorn person complete nan insubstantial going forward. Opinion columnist Dana Milbank wondered if nan billionaire could interfere "if it benefits Jeff’s business interests, and it’ll trump our journalism," a interest he told nan Free Beacon.

"I person ever been capable to reply pinch a cleanable conscience that our owner, Jeff Bezos, does not meddle pinch our copy, doesn't show america erstwhile we can't people something… I consciousness for illustration I cannot opportunity that anymore," economical columnist Catherine Rampell said. "Who's going to judge america that that is true, that we are not conscionable doing his bidding, that we are still an independent journalistic organization?" 

Liberal columnist and MSNBC contributor Eugene Robinson fumed that The Post "just pissed disconnected and [drove] distant a batch of our astir loyal and avid readers." Another sentiment staffer insisted nan "damage to nan committee and nan conception and nan insubstantial is incalculable."

"[The] nonaccomplishment to raise our sound powerfully successful revulsion against Donald Trump, and everything that he stands for, makes maine heartsick," columnist Ruth Marcus said astatine nan meeting.

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The Washington Post was group to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris earlier Bezos quashed its plans. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

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Jennifer Rubin, who has been an outspoken professional of Bezos' decision, sounded nan siren astir nan "apparent conflict" nan billionaire will person pinch his different businesses and their ties to a imaginable Trump presidency going forward, asking "If Trump wins, really will we ever cognize that he's not putting his thumb connected nan scale?"

"[The] state is connected nan verge of electing personification who is moving connected a level of retribution, fearfulness and retaliation," Rubin said. 

"If nan doubts are overwhelming, past you person to make nan determination that feels axenic and correct and ethical to you," Shipley replied to Rubin.

A spokesperson for The Washington Post declined to comment.  

Panic continues to rattle The Post arsenic nan "Democracy Dies successful Darkness" shed much than 250,000 subscribers since Friday arsenic wide readers stay outraged complete its determination not to endorse Harris.