Where the story gets really interesting is how the editor of ProPublica has responded to criticism about the entire affair. Obviously, people are upset that the organization was prepared to slander Hegseth, ambushed him, called him a liar, and demanded he prove his integrity so quickly in the midst of everything else he is doing. After all, if the story were real they could have waited a day without being scooped--nobody else was chasing this non-story.
The editor, though, sees the whole affair in a different light: it was a journalism success story! ...
No doubt Jesse Eisinger is disappointed that ProPublica wasn't able to embarrass Hegseth, but since the story was killed before it was published and then refuted, he is probably pleased that the organization dodged a bullet.
Think about the circumstances, though: a reporter at ProPublica was fed a bogus story, was given false information by a West Point official, accused a nominee of being a liar, and when miraculously, Hegseth was able to swat down the story within the ridiculously short time allotted, dropped the story and shrugged.
