On Tuesday Ein strongly denied making these statements in a letter to Salon editor David Talbot that she later released to the press. Ein insisted that the story "is replete with inaccurate statements attributed to me ... Further, the premise of the piece -- that I was somehow engaged in an effort to cast aspersions on Ms. Levy's character or past -- is entirely false." Ein asked Talbot "to take the steps necessary to retract this story."

Salon will not do so. Marshall took scrupulous notes during his interview with Ein, which confirm that she did indeed make these statements. Furthermore, Salon has learned that Ein made similar disparaging comments about Levy to at least one other reporter at a major metropolitan newspaper. Salon stands by its story.