Leah McGrath Goodman, author of the controversial Newsweek Bitcoin cover story, hit back at former Daily Beast and Newsweek editor Tina Brown for questioning the magazine’s reporting.
“I find her comments not to be very friendly to Newsweek,” Goodman contended. “I have a problem with the way she spoke about it.”
Also read: Tina Brown Reacts to Newsweek Bitcoin Story: ‘I’m Glad I’m Not The Editor!’
Newsweek unmasked the person it claimed created the digital currency, Bitcoin, when it resumed printing this week after a 14 month hiatus. The problem is the man in question, Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto, told the press that the story was incorrect and media critics have criticized Goodman’s evidence is weak. There’s also the nasty issue of whether or not it was ethical for Goodman to expose someone who wished to remain anonymous.
Earlier on Friday, Brown laughed about Newsweek’s predicament with the story and said it would be “rough” if her old publication’s cover story about Bitcoin turned out to be wrong.
“All I can think of is I’m so glad I’m not the editor!” Brown cackled.
Also read: Newsweek’s Alleged Bitcoin Creator Denies Story, Flees In LA Car Chase
“There’s a a back story to that and she knows there is one,” Goodman responded.
Bloomberg TV’s Tom Keene questioned why Goodman was certain she had found the right man, given his denials.
“His whole background according to those closest to him was that which would inform the sort of coding that would be required for Bitcoin,” Goodman explained.
“There are 10,000 people that are described by what you said,” Keene pressed. “What are the attributes he displayed that lead you to connect the dots that he invented Bitcoin?”
“His career history,” Goodman argued. “If 10,000 people fit all the attributes we looked at, I’d like to talk to those people because I did not find there were 10,000.”
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