Politico’s story on Ben Carson and West Point under scrutiny

Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson admitted he didn’t get a scholarship to West Point, but slammed reporters for making it a big issue. But by day’s end, each side essentially declared victory.

In his book, Carson wrote: “I was offered a full scholarship to West Point”. The story is now headlined, “Exclusive: Carson claimed West Point “scholarship” but never applied”.

Citing privacy concerns, his campaign has refused to name the person involved, and Carson said Friday he would “think about it” only if reporters would promise to sing his praises if he did so.

The news organization has since updated its story, removing references to Carson admitting fabrication. “The story online includes additional details now, as well, that bolster this account”.

“This is a bunch of lies, that is what it is”, Carson said on CNN’s “New Day” when Alisyn Camerota asked about the report by Scott Glover and Maeve Reston in which they spoke to people Carson grew up with. “I think it’s pathetic”. And since there is no tuition at West Point, there are no scholarships. “It was specifically made”. “Nowhere did I say that”, the leading Republican presidential candidate challenged one reporter who suggested otherwise.

“We’re talking about history, this is like 50 or 60 years ago”, Gilbreath said, “It really feels like this is another opportunity to take down a frontrunner”.

“What about the West Point thing is false? What is false about it?”

“I want the people of America to stop falling for this garbage that they’re hearing”, he said. “But I made it clear I was going to pursue a career in medicine”.

Carson has repeated the story over the years, including in an interview in October with Charlie Rose.

“Dr. Carson, as the leading ROTC student in Detroit, was told by his Commanders that he could get an Appointment to the Academy”, Watts said.

On Friday, Carson’s campaign said he never sought admission to West Point, and Carson angrily denied suggestions that he had misrepresented the facts surrounding the West Point overture. Barry Bennett, Carson’s campaign manager, said in an email to CNN that the story had been “debunked”.

But according to his campaign, the GOP candidate “can’t remember with specificity their brief conversation but it centered around Dr. Carson’s performance as ROTC City Executive Officer”. Did he fabricate, as in lie, about West Point?

Applicants to the nation’s military academies are usually nominated by members of Congress or the administration.

Ben Carson offered a strong defense of his biographical anecdotes Sunday after days of questions about the accuracy of his descriptions, and blamed the media, which he said is trying to derail his campaign by sewing doubts about his truthfulness.