Politics is the art of telling the big lies, lies that often get people killed. Sex is the art of telling the little lies, lies that often make people.
Getting people's attention is proportional to novelty. The more outlandish a lie is, the easier it is to sell.
So you must think that this aide made these desperate reports that night and then sent the text, received the calls from Matt, etc., as all part of an elaborate, long-con lie?!?