RantCrush Top 5: January 11, 2017

Last night, Buzzfeed released documents that alleged that Donald Trump visited the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Moscow in 2013 and paid prostitutes for a particular sex act in the same bed in which the Obamas had previously slept, among other claims. The document also contains memos about alleged bribes and claims that the relationship between the Russian government and Trump has been longstanding. There were immediately a lot of questions in the press and on social media about the validity, origin, and ethics of this document.

Yesterday, a spokesman for Putin denied all the allegations and called it an “absolute fantasy.” Trump responded of course, on Twitter, with an all-caps denial:

FAKE NEWS – A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2017

He continued to deny the allegations during today’s press conference.

Apparently, this document has been rumored and circulating in certain media circles for months. But right now a lot is unclear, and Buzzfeed has received some criticism for releasing the document. Hopefully more details will follow.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.