Anonymous ‘A Warning’ author not top National Security Council worker Victoria Coates, author’s agents forced to state as rumours swirl
- Agents for the anonymous author, who claimed to be part of a ‘resistance’ inside the administration, deny rumours spread by ‘uninformed idiots’
- Coates feared for her job, according to several people close to her, even though she was recently promoted by national security adviser Robert O’Brien
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Blake Hounshell on politico.com on February 2, 2020.
The agents for the senior Trump administration official who penned an anonymous New York Times op-ed and bestselling book are breaking their silence to swat down a whisper campaign pinning the unnamed writings on a top National Security Council (NSC) worker – citing “truly bizarre circumstances” that forced their hand.
“Over the past weeks and months, there has been continual speculation as to the identity of the author known as Anonymous,” Matt Latimer, co-founder of literary agency Javelin, who brokered the book deal for A Warning, plans to say in a forthcoming statement obtained by Politico.
“We have heard various theories and conclusions based on ‘solid reporting’. We have politely declined to confirm or deny them. That was a decision we made in deference to our author and we had intended to stick by it. Now truly bizarre circumstances have forced us to change that position.”
In recent weeks, people in and outside the White House had suggested to reporters at multiple news outlets – including Politico – that deputy national security adviser Victoria Coates was Anonymous. Coates had begun to fear for her job, according to several people close to her, even though she was recently promoted by national security adviser Robert O’Brien.