In a plot twist that would make O. Henry weep with pride, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has achieved what can only be described as the perfect ironic circle of Washington life: her email warning staff about leaks has itself sprung a leak.
Wiles, who clearly missed the memo about glass houses and stone-throwing, fired off what was presumably meant to be a stern, confidential message about the importance of keeping White House business under wraps. The email, which we can only assume contained phrases like “loose lips sink ships” and “what happens in the West Wing stays in the West Wing,” was apparently as watertight as a screen door on a submarine.
The leaked anti-leak email now joins the pantheon of beautifully self-defeating moments, sitting comfortably next to “Do Not Read This Sign” signs and diet books written by people who’ve never seen a vegetable. It’s the kind of cosmic comedy that makes you wonder if the universe has a sense of humor, or if it’s just really, really tired.
One can only imagine the scene in the White House when news of the leak broke. Picture staffers slowly backing away from their computers, side-eyeing each other like participants in a very serious game of “Who Done It?” while Wiles presumably wondered if there’s a stronger word than “ironic” in the English language.
The incident serves as a perfect reminder that in Washington, the only thing harder to contain than classified information is the urge to share juicy details about emails telling people not to share juicy details. It’s leaks all the way down, folks.
*Source: Reddit Not The Onion, The Independent*
Original story via Reddit Not The Onion