The NE also broke important stories related to Hillary Clinton and Jesse Jackson a few years back. Stories that then ran the next day in outlets like the NY Times and Washington Post as “the National Enquirer reported yesterday that . . . “. The NE has a certain advantage over “legitimate” media outlets in that it’s perfectly willing to shell out cash for information. The slimy associates of slimy public figures see no reason to yammer to a “legitimate” media outlet for free when they can get paid to yammer to the NE.
The Post, Times, etc., also have a vested interest in protecting specific candidates. The Enquirer, primarily working in celebrity world, has no such problems. They’ll hammer whoever. Since losing a massive lawsuit a few years ago, they’re very careful about accuracy. This story, however, broke in the Globe, a periodical with far less of a record for accuracy.