Ted Cruz emerges as hero as Gawker is blasted for article that outs Condé Nast executive

The Houston Chronicle ^ | July 17, 2015 | John-Henry Perera

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is the good guy in a controversial article about two gay men and an extortion attempt. If you're in a good mood, why not patronize Cruz's persona by buying some of the weirdest merchandise featuring his mug online?

It's a bit of a doozy, but Gawker is catching enormous amounts of digital flak for running a story that essentially outs the sexuality of a Condé Nast executive who happens to be related to Tim Geithner, President Barack Obama's former treasury secretary.

Writer Jordan Sargent received a series of text messages and emails from a male escort named "Ryan." Those documents detail a sexual rendezvous with Ryan and that business executive and the following extortion attempt.

While initially a simple tryst, things escalated when Ryan figured out his customer's identity and attempted to coerce him into helping out with a housing dispute. Apparently Ryan is a war veteran who suffers from PTSD and was allegedly kicked out of his Texas luxury apartment home due to owning a service dog, according to legal documents, although Ryan claims it was because his landlord learned he was a gay porn star.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was also involved in Ryan's housing dispute. Ryan had sought the freshman senator's help earlier, and on April 7, 2015, Cruz's told him they had begun discussions with the landlord on his behalf. Unfortunately, nothing could be done but Cruz has maintained contact with Ryan.

"He says that an employee of Cruz's called him this afternoon to say that the senator had personally called the HUD director on his behalf," Sargent writes. "It seems as if Cruz, in the midst of his Presidential campaign, sees an opportunity to help a veteran with PTSD who has been crushed by Washington bureaucracy."(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Better yet, donate to his campaign thru my link. And don't forget to give generously to the FReepathon, as well.

[PGR88]

"It seems as if Cruz, in the midst of his Presidential campaign, sees an opportunity to help a veteran with PTSD who has been crushed by Washington bureaucracy."

That's what Senate staff are for.

[NohSpinZone]

The self flagellation among the Gawker editorial staff is pathetic and outrageous. I can guarantee you that they would have never pulled this story if this scandal implicated a Republican. My God, the field day they would have had if this story was actually about Ted Cruz soliciting the tryst.

[SoConPubbie]

    Ted Cruz Ping!

    If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know.
    Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!

    CRUZ or LOSE!

[Albion Wilde]

Gawker took down the original post, about Timothy Geithner's brother, and ran this explanation: Taking a post down