Ex-Trump campaign adviser: It was a ‘mistake’ to give book author access

A former campaign adviser to President Trump said it was a “mistake” to let author Michael Wolff into the White House to write his book, which has roiled Washington over the last several days.

“But you guys let him in, Michael. You guys opened the door,” CNN host Chris Cuomo said to Michael Caputo regarding Wolff’s access. 

Caputo, talking over Cuomo, responded, “That was a mistake.”

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“You said ‘come on in.’ And you gave him tons of access, including the president, who spoke to him about the book,” Cuomo continued.

The admission from a former aide to Trump comes as the administration has been forced to grapple with shocking revelations that began leaking last week ahead of the book’s release. 

Reporting in the book includes quotes from former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, who characterized Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 campaign as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.”

The remarks caused Trump to denounce Bannon in a strongly worded statement in which the president said his former aide “lost his mind” when he left the White House. Trump has also blasted Wolff, saying he “made up stories” for the book.

Bannon over the weekend provided a statement praising Trump Jr. to Axios after receiving criticism for his remarks.

“Donald Trump, Jr. is both a patriot and a good man. He has been relentless in his advocacy for his father and the agenda that has helped turn our country around,” Bannon said.