Washington Post Chief Executive and Publisher Will Lewis’ pick to be its lead editor has withdrawn from the job. Robert Winnett of the U.K.’s Telegraph was scheduled to start after the U.S. elections.
Lewis said he would start a process to name a replacement — steps he did not take in announcing his old friend Winnett to the job less than three weeks ago. The ethical records of both men have come under withering scrutiny in recent days.
The incidents include paying a six-figure sum to secure a major scoop; planting a junior reporter in a government job to obtain secret and even classified documents; and relying on a private investigator who used subterfuge to secure people’s confidential records and documents.
