Man claims he was behind Reid rumor

A Las Vegas man told the Las Vegas Sun that he created the rumor that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had been attacked by Reid’s angry brother, a story that’s been repeated on a number of conservative blogs and radio shows.

{mosads}Reid’s office said the long-time senator fell while exercising, breaking bones in his face and ribs. He has not yet regained his sight in his injured eye and has had multiple surgeries.

But Larry Pfeifer, a former consultant, told the Sun he is the source of a conservative blogger’s post on the Power Line blog that alleges Reid’s brother beat him up and then went to an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting while drunk and confessed to beating up someone in his family.

“It was just so outrageous,” he told the paper, claiming he started telling the story to see if people would actually publish it.

“The fact that someone can say something completely false that can destroy somebody’s life, it’s just wrong. Where’s the moral compass?”

Reid’s injuries have been a source of significant questions from conservative media, including on Laura Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh’s radio shows. Limbaugh touted the story from Power Line on a show in April, telling the story of how the source had allegedly met Reid’s brother at an AA group on New Year’s Eve after the supposed incident.

Neither host specifically touted the story as the truth, but Pfeifer still criticized everyone who reported his story as a viable option.

“They had no problem using a story that had nothing but some guy’s word,” Pfeifer told the paper.

“Not one of them knew my real name. I didn’t even give them my phone number.”

Adam Jentleson, Reid’s communications director, has spent the last day retweeting people accusing Reid of lying about his injuries.

OK but aside from what really happened to Harry Reid, WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HARRY REID? http://t.co/Kqehx43Sto

— Adam Jentleson (@AJentleson) April 26, 2015