Michelle Celarier is sitting on a major story
I wrote two posts yesterday (today Australian time actually).
I demonstrated that there were multiple versions of the letters that Senator Markey wrote concerning Herbalife.
The version on Bill Ackman's website has an earlier date than the one on Senator Markey's website. Moreover the one on Bill Ackman's website had been produced with a scanner.
The New York Post website carries the Ackman-website versions. Michelle Celarier claims that she got those versions from Senator Markey's website.
At first glance this looks problematic. The metadata on the New York Post versions includes the following: "Author: copier@persq.com".
It is thus plain that the letters were produced by Pershing Square.
However, even after my post Michelle Celarier believes she got the letters from Senator Markey's website:
I see no reason to disbelieve her.
However if she can prove this she is sitting on a pretty good story. Bill Ackman, billionaire hedge fund manager, gets to produce letters for Ed Markey's signature and gets them put on Ed Markey's website without alteration.
I look forward to reading that story in the New York Post.
John
Michelle Celarier has issued an update on her Twitter stream. She now acknowledges that she received the letter from Pershing Square.
As the letters were clearly market sensitive there is one detail that is still missing - the date at which the letters were received by The Post. The letters on the New York Post website are dated the day before Senator Markey released his letter.
Here is Michelle Celarier's update. I thank her for being so open with us.
J