A Michigan newspaper has fired a reporter after she was heard using vulgarities to criticize Republican Senate candidate John James in a voicemail.
The Huron Daily Tribune said Monday night it dismissed Brenda Battel, hours after The Daily Caller published audio of her comments. After leaving a voicemail to request an interview with James following Tuesday's midterm elections, she appeared to not hang up the phone all the way and the line remained open.
"Man, if he beats her … Jesus! F—king John James. That would suck! I don't think it's going to happen though," Battel said.
Tribune editor Kate Hessling released a statement a few hours later and confirmed Battel no longer works for the paper.
"I have listened to the voicemail left by Brenda Battel to Mr. James' campaign, and find no reason to defend this behavior," Hessling said. "Brenda Battel's employment has been immediately terminated.
"The Huron Daily Tribune sincerely apologizes to Mr. James and to the public. These statements do not represent the views of the Tribune as a whole, nor do they reflect the actions of a responsible journalist."
The James campaign posted audio of the voicemail on its YouTube channel.
Battel posted a message on her Twitter account Tuesday morning apologizing for her remarks.
"My apologies to @JohnJamesMI. I am human. I made a mistake. While I did my best to be a fair, objective, professional journalist, what I said reflected none of those traits. For this, I am truly sorry to all of those who have been affected by my mistake," she wrote.
James is running to unseat Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
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