Mr. Smith, in the interview, said the wording of Mr. Carr’s statement was imprecise, adding that he was “eager to understand” which specific aspects of the article the special counsel’s office had denied. Under the direction of Mr. Smith, a longtime political journalist, the site has pursued ambitious stories. Last year it was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for an inquiry into the deaths of Russians in England, which Mr. Leopold worked on. Mr. Leopold has also spoken openly about his recovery from addiction. Asked about Mr. Leopold’s past, Mr. Smith pointed to his Pulitzer Prize nomination last year.

Source: New York Times January 20, 2019 00:00 UTC