White House Denies Threatening Journalist Bob Woodward Over His Sequester Reporting

Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward told Politico Wednesday night that he was threatened by a White House aide following his comments challenging President Obama on the facts in the sequestration battle.

An email sent by the aide, apparently the National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling, read:

“You're focusing on a few specific trees that gives a very wrong impression of the forest. But perhaps we will just not see eye to eye here. ... I think you will regret staking out that claim."

After Woodward came out with the claim, the White House denied any threats were made and said that the staffer was simply apologizing.

Fox News contributor Tucker Carlson reacted today on America's Newsroom. Carlson said that Woodward has hurt the administration with "politically damaging" claims that the sequester idea came from the White House and that tax hikes were not part of the original deal.

Carlson also thought Woodward may have hyped the threat claim based on an email exchange with Sperling. A portion of the email reads: "Gene you do not ever have to apologize to me. You get wound up because you are making points and you believe them. This is all part of a serious discussion. I for one welcome a little heat; there should be more given the importance. I also welcome your personal advice. I'm listening. I know you lived all this..."

Speaking about the relationship between reporter and source, Carlson commented that "this offers a window into how Washington actually works."