Mark Kauzlarich/Reuters
Ted Cruz on Friday accused “Donald Trump and his henchmen” of planting a National Enquirer story accusing the senator of having five extramarital affairs. Calling the report “garbage,” the GOP candidate told media in Wisconsin that “it is a tabloid smear, and it is a smear that has come from Donald Trump and his henchmen.” In a subsequent Facebook statement, Cruz added: “These smears are completely false, they’re offensive to Heidi and me, they’re offensive to our daughters, and they’re offensive to everyone Donald continues to personally attack. Donald Trump’s consistently disgraceful behavior is beneath the office we are seeking and we are not going to follow.” The Enquirer endorsed Trump earlier this month.
An hour later, Trump released a statement denying that he had anything to do with the allegations, while backhandedly mentioning the Enquirer’s correct reporting on John Edwards and other public figures. “I certainly hope they are not right about Lyin’ Ted Cruz,” the Republican frontrunner said. “Unlike Lyin’ Ted I do not surround myself with political hacks and henchmen and then pretend total innocence.”