The Capital Special District Daily's investigation report on the terrorist attack at the concert in the Mountain Ring Four States had entered the follow-up stage. In a series of reports, there were obviously photos taken in secret, a clear organizational structure, and relevant witness testimonies all over the page. In particular, there were also relevant recordings and simple video materials uploaded on the daily's website. The conclusion of the investigation directly pointed to Senator Macklin.
The shock caused by this series of reports continued to ferment. The follow-up report on the fourth day had already turned to an accident that happened in the Linhai State Gymnasium on the first of January of the 67th year of the Constitutional calendar. The Capital Daily bravely pointed out that the accident was an armed conflict that was deliberately concealed by the Federation government. An unknown target was attacked by the Federal military's Second Military Region.
In the report, the reporter pointed out that as many as seven officers of the Second Military Region who participated in the Spring Offensive in the capital committed suicide after the related investigation. At that time, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, Yang Jingsong, was said to have died of illness. In fact, he committed suicide to avoid punishment during the internal investigation of the government.
When this report came out, the entire Federation was shocked again. What kind of incident involved the military and led to the suicide of the Deputy Minister of National Defense? In the Capital Daily's report, this incident directly pointed to Senator Macklin again, but this time, the report was obviously missing a few key witnesses.
The Federation's election committee asked the daily to terminate the report on the grounds of fairness of the election. Chief Editor Bob firmly said that the report would continue even if the Supreme Court ruled. Except for the Supreme Court's ruling, the daily report would have a serious bias towards the upcoming presidential election.
The Supreme Court's cases often took several years, so the entire Federation could only watch as the Capital Daily carried out the report crazily. As for what the readers were thinking, no one knew.
Due to the reputation and authority of the Capital Daily News over the years, as well as the fact that it was a George Carlinist in the first place, it was now accusing Macklin, the spokesperson of George Carlinism. Furthermore, with the secret evidence and logical inference, the credibility of the accusation was greatly increased. Many people began to doubt it.
However, most people still thought that this report was purely based on the pictures and was a hysterical conspiracy theorist. The chain of evidence was very far-fetched and absurd. There were also many voices of criticism in the political and media circles. They felt that under such circumstances, the daily newspaper's report was clearly not rigorous enough.
As for the young people who believed in George Carlinism, their way of expressing their attitude was much more direct. They angrily believed that this was the old stubborn forces of the Federation. They were unwilling to see Senator Medellin, who came from the four states and represented the bottom of society, become the Vice-President of the Federation. The Capital Daily News was the mouthpiece of these forces and was a shameless political lackey!
"Many reporters are waiting for us in the conference room." Wood glanced downstairs with a solemn expression. His gaze passed through the Moon Eclipse symbol and landed on the dozens of Capital University students on Cabin Street. These students had come to the newspaper office to express their protest, but it had attracted even more reporters.
"Senator Macklin has created a rare image in the past few decades. In the entire political circle of the Federation, perhaps only Pabre can compete with him. However, in the hearts of the young students, this disciple of Saint George is the idol who can truly represent their ideals of fairness."
Chief Editor Bob tidied up the documents on the table and walked with Wood to the conference room. In the past few days after the report was published, the two of them had endured a huge amount of pressure that they had never endured before in their lives. This pressure not only came from the upper echelons of the Federation, but also from the anger of the ordinary people and even the incomprehension of their families. In just a few days, they looked a little haggard.
The reporters in the conference room looked at the two people who walked in, exchanged glances, and then began to ask questions. Nominally, they were there to interview the protesting students, but in fact, they were more concerned about the accusations against Senator Macklin.
Chief Editor Bob sat in a chair and looked around at his colleagues with a smile. He said, "If there's anything you want to ask, please ask. I used to be a reporter, so I know the torment of looking for answers."
The reporters laughed, and then someone asked directly, "The pictures and recordings in the continuous report, are the sources legitimate? Where did they come from? If this question isn't answered, I believe that the credibility of the report will be reduced a lot. "
The reporters wouldn't try to find the information, and the newspaper definitely wouldn't leak it. Even if they got the information, the newspaper might not dare to publish it. The young students who were protesting downstairs proved the risk of doing so.
"We have to protect the source of the information, but in fact … it was sent." Wood answered first, "Everyone is familiar with the law of the press. There is no question of legality in sending materials like this. As for the related investigation in Area S2, I spent 70,000 Federation coins and hired a dozen paparazzi to dig it up. "
"Paparazzi from the entertainment line?" The reporter shook his head in disbelief.
"Don't underestimate the paparazzi. As long as they are willing to pay, they are more efficient than the Ministry of Justice and the Federation Bureau of Investigation combined." Wood shrugged.
After a few more questions, a middle-aged man who had been silent suddenly said, "Bob, I'm not interviewing you. I just have some questions about this report, and I want to ask you."
Chief Editor Bob and the reporters in the conference room all knew the middle-aged man named Wu Qima. They were very familiar with him because he was a famous hardworking reporter in the Federation. Until now, he had written countless articles that disgraced the Federation government.
Since it wasn't an interview, the reporters in the conference room tacitly turned off the recording equipment in their hands and listened quietly.
Wu Qima deliberated for a long time before saying, "You know what kind of person I am, but I still think that it's not appropriate for you to throw out this report before the election. In the end, I still believe in Senator Macklin. Let's not talk about the credibility of your chain of evidence based on inferences, but … "
"What do you mean by inferences? Could it be that the blonde girl in the pictures isn't Macklin's secretary? Could it be that the guy in the foundation didn't explain what he did? "Wood angrily waved the newspaper in his hand.
"But these people are all dead." Wu Qima frowned and said, "And I don't want to argue about this. I'm just thinking, if Senator Macklin is the mastermind behind this, why would he do this? Whether it's the reported assassination in Linhai or the terrorist attack in the Four Mountainous States, what good would it do for him, who still has a strong anti-government attitude? "
"Destroying the reconciliation agreement and atmosphere of the Federation, using those deaths to divide the people of the Federation into two political groups … Senator Macklin is definitely a mature politician. He wouldn't be unaware that this is not good for his path to the election. Moreover, during the terrorist attack, he was at the scene and almost died. The more opposite the Federation's political groups are, the more his anti-government attitude is a burden, not a layer of glory. "
Chief Editor Bob listened quietly, and the reporters in the entire conference room were also very quiet. Everyone was a reporter who ran the political line, so they were naturally sensitive in this regard. Naturally, they were very clear that Wu Qima's analysis was very reasonable. After all, Senator Macklin couldn't find the motive for doing these things.
In fact, Xu Le had thought about the question of motive a long time ago. Lady Tai had also thought about it. Even Lin Banshan had also thought about it in the grass beside the high-speed railway. However, these people, or people with great wisdom, couldn't guess what Macklin was thinking and couldn't find the reason for him to do this.
After Wu Qima finished speaking, Bob was silent for a moment and said, "I also want to find the motive for him to do this, but I can't find it. However, I know one thing better. As a journalist, we only need to find the facts and tell the facts. The motive behind the facts is a problem that needs to be considered by the prosecutor. "
He raised his head, looked directly at the reporters in the conference room, and said calmly, "The newspaper won't convict a person. It will only tell the citizens of the Federation what the people around that person have done. As for whether they are guilty or not, the readers will have their own judgment in their hearts."
Wu Qima didn't give up. He shook his head and said, "But your inference, the style of your writing when you are narrating the so-called facts, has already shown your inclination. You have already made a moral judgment, and this is not right!"
"The news is actually the opinion of the person who writes the news. I admit that Wood and I have our own judgment. We have been using it cautiously, including in this report, "Bob said.
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After the reporters dispersed, Wu Qima stayed and drank a cup of coffee in the chief editor's office. He looked at Bob and said seriously, "We have known each other for decades. What you said before could convince those young people, but it couldn't convince me. The newspaper's inclination is too serious. You convicted Senator Macklin in advance, and then you came to find evidence. Cautious? I think what you said about being cautious is a joke. "
"It is indeed not cautious enough, but you have to be clear about the current time period." Bob stared into his eyes and said, "Such a person is about to be elected as the Federation's vice president. If he is really the person behind the scenes, the entire Federation will pay a heavy price for my caution. At that time, it will be a real joke."
"So you have the power to use the public opinion in your hands to pull him down?" Wu Qima put down the coffee cup and asked angrily.
"You have seen our report, so you should have your own judgment. Do you think Macklin is guilty or not?" Bob looked at him coldly.
Wu Qima was silent for a long time before he shook his head and said, "I don't know. Maybe I just don't want to see two positive figures in the political world, but they have deceived most people, including me."
"Whether he is guilty or not, it is a matter for the Ministry of Justice to investigate." Bob frowned and said, "And I don't think that these few reports can make Macklin lose this election. When Governor Ross was in charge of Jingzhou, the economy of Harbor City dazzled the entire Federation. Coupled with Macklin in the background of the Great Reconciliation, their chances of winning are really high. "
"You support Pabre? I didn't plan to vote this year, "Wu Qima asked.
"I support this." Bob patted his left chest.
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