The New York Times, Victim of Hoax, Publishes Fake Letter From Mayor of Paris

The New York Times published on Monday a letter apparently from the mayor of Paris, France, Bertrand Delanoë, where he sharply criticizes Caroline Kennedy’s quest for Hillary Clinton’s senate seat. It turns out that the letter was a fake. The Paris City Hall refuted the letter and demanded an apology from the Times. The news giant, which already posted a correction online, will publish the error in the next edition.

Monday morning brought pointed words to the letters section of the mighty daily newspaper. The mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë apparently had a lot to get off his chest when it came to the senate seat of New York and the possible candidacy of Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former president John F. Kennedy. The seat, which will be vacant once Hillary Clinton is confirmed in January as Secretary of State in Barack Obama’s administration, will be filled by an appointee of the governor of New York, David Paterson.

The letter starts off with a phrase identifying the writer as the mayor of Paris and is simply signed Bertrand Delanoë. The lack of diplomacy and sheer brutality of the tone surprised the communication department of the mayor’s office in Paris and the Delanoë’s party, le Parti socialiste after France-Amérique brought the letter to their attention. Both declared having no knowledge of the matter and scrambled to get their hands on a copy of the Times. Virginie Christnacht of the press office expressed “disbelief.” She also worried about the negative repercussions that could result vis-à-vis the American public and the mayor’s image.

The letter, which has since been picked up on numerous blogs, vents its feelings that Caroline Kennedy of the Kennedy dynasty believes herself entitled to the senate seat without qualification. To finish with a flourish on the degradation of American politics, the letter asks, “Can we speak of American decline?”

Contacted by telephone, one of the editors of the New York Times editorial section admitted not knowing how this letter, sent via email, could have made its way into print without verification. “The letter is going to be taken off the site and a correction will be published in the editorial pages in the next edition,” said the editor, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Noticeably embarrassed, she explained that “something went awry.”

“We are in the process of investigating what happened,” said the editor.