Breitbart News Faces Mounting Pressure to Protect Reporter Allegedly Manhandled by Trump Aide
The sordid tale of misguided allegiances and bruised reporters
Reports that Donald Trump campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, grabbed Breitbart Reporter and Fox News Contributor, Michelle Fields, and threw her to towards the ground surfaced Tuesday evening.
Following eyewitness accounts, not to mention a bruised Fields, the overtly Trump friendly website refused to stick up for their reporter. Neither did they demand an apology from Lewandowski.
The following day, The Daily Beast pieces the story together in its entirety. I’ve only included excerpts, but I would suggest reading the piece in its entirety. It’s quite disturbing:
The reality television billionaire might also be laying the groundwork for a not-so-brave new world in which a campaign manager can assault a female journalist, while her news organization—in this case the famously Trump-friendly Breitbart News—responds with a mild rebuke in a vague statement perceived by some to be designed to protect the perpetrator.
This apparently describes, at least according to witnesses and other journalists interviewed by The Daily Beast, Breitbart’s handling of an incident Tuesday night involving Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and Breitbart political reporter Michelle Fields.
“It’s obviously unacceptable that someone crossed a line and made physical contact with our reporter,” said the Breitbart statement, issued under the name of Larry Solov, the outlet’s CEO and president. “What Michelle has told us directly is that someone ‘grabbed her arm’ and while she did not see who it was, Ben Terris of The Washington Post told her that it was Corey Lewandowski. If that’s the case, Corey owes Michelle an immediate apology.”
The statement was issued in the wee hours of Wednesday morning but remains Breitbart’s official comment on the matter, hours after sources said Lewandowski acknowledged to Breitbart’s Washington political editor, Matthew Boyle, that he did manhandle Fields.
Lewandowski’s explanation to Boyle, said these sources, was that he and Fields had never met before and that he didn’t recognize her as a Breitbart reporter, instead mistaking her for an adversarial member of the mainstream media. Trump’s press secretary, Hope Hicks, didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. Nor did the usually responsive Boyle.
The Breitbart statement struck sources within Breitbart and outside the company as strangely inadequate, given that it blames an unidentified “someone,” uses the conditional phrase “if that’s the case,” and leaves open the possibility that Lewandowski didn’t lay hands on Fields.
…
Fields—who sources say was instructed by Breitbart’s PR consultant, Kurt Bardella, not to speak to other journalists about the incident, though Bardella claims otherwise—declined to comment for this story. Thursday morning, however, Breitbart posted her brief account of the incident.
The Washington Post, whose reporter witness the entire event, published their own post. The details of the Washington Post accounting are congruent with those of The Daily Beast:
…
Now comes Tuesday’s run-in with Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields, which might not have featured Trump as the main offender but was clearly a result of the culture he has created in his campaign. The details are a bit hazy, but Breitbart chief executive Larry Solov issued the following statement:
It’s obviously unacceptable that someone crossed a line and made physical contact with our reporter. What Michelle has told us directly is that someone “grabbed her arm” and while she did not see who it was, Ben Terris of The Washington Post told her that it was Corey Lewandowski. If that’s the case, Corey owes Michelle an immediate apology.
Terris confirmed that he saw Lewandowski grab Fields by the arm.
…
Tuesday’s encounter between Lewandowski and Fields was clearly less extreme, but the fact that a top Trump staffer would physically accost a journalist from Breitbart, of all places, highlights the extent of his campaign’s volatility. Breitbart has been a major cheerleader for the billionaire real estate mogul, a role The Washington Post’s Paul Farhi described well when he wrote about the popular conservative new site in January.
Long before rebellious Republicans and the rest of the news media took Trump’s candidacy seriously, Breitbart was championing Trump’s “anti-establishment” message, one that seems to square with Breitbart’s own ethos.
Trump has returned the favor, doling out so many “exclusives” to Breitbart’s relentless Washington political editor, Matthew Boyle, that some have wondered whether Trump and Breitbart are in business together. (They’re not, both sides say.) Nevertheless, Trump clearly holds a special place for Breitbart, which is named for its late founder, the activist and media entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart. When Boyle, 28, asked Trump about his rising poll numbers after a Republican debate last summer, Trump broke into a broad smile and high-fived the young journalist in front of startled onlookers in the post-debate spin room.
If Trump’s campaign can’t maintain an even temper around Breitbart, then it’s hard to imagine how he would keep a level head around anyone else as president.
Politico obtained and published a transcript of the event:
Din of people talking, clanking of glasses, snippets of conversation, reporters telling one another to ‘move up a little’, greeting each other, saying ‘good to see you’ saying ‘OK good quote then’, then clearly action picks up as cameras start clicking.
Fields: “Mr. Trump, you went after the late Scalia for affirmative action, do you — are you still against affirmative action?”
Voice (allegedly Corey Lewandowski): “Excuse me, thank you.”A few moments later (noise of the room can be heard)…
Terris: “You OK?”
Fields: “Holy sh*t.”
Terris: “Yea he just threw you down.”
Fields: “I can’t believe he just did that that was so hard. Was that Corey?”
Terris: “Yeah, like, what threat were you?”
Fields: “That was insane. You should have felt how hard he grabbed me. That’s insane. I’ve never had anyone do that to me from a campaign.”
Terris: “Can I put that in my story?”
Fields: “Yeah, go for it — that was really awful. That’s so unprofessional.”
Terris: “He really just almost threw you down on the ground.”
Fields: “He literally went like this and was grabbing me down. I don’t even what to do [about] what he just did to me. Oh my God, that really spooked me that someone would do that.”
Terris: “What threat were you?”
Fields: “Nothing. I was asking about affirmative action.”
Terris: “And he probably knows you, right?”
Fields: “Yeah, I don’t understand. That looks horrible. You’re going after a Breitbart reporter, the people who are nicest to you?”
Terris: “I know, I’m going to put it in my story.”
Fields shared her side of the story today, which corroborates The Daily Beast’s report:
I wasn’t called upon to ask a question during the televised press conference, but afterwards Trump wandered around, stopping at every reporter to take their questions. When he approached me, I asked him about his view on an aspect of affirmative action.
Trump acknowledged the question, but before he could answer I was jolted backwards. Someone had grabbed me tightly by the arm and yanked me down. I almost fell to the ground, but was able to maintain my balance. Nonetheless, I was shaken.
The Washington Post’s Ben Terris immediately remarked that it was Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who aggressively tried to pull me to the ground. I quickly turned around and saw Lewandowski and Trump exiting the building together. No apology. No explanation for why he did this.
Even if Trump was done taking questions, Lewandowski would be out of line. Campaign managers aren’t supposed to try to forcefully throw reporters to the ground, no matter the circumstance. But what made this especially jarring is that there was no hint Trump was done taking questions. No one was pushing him to get away. He seemed to have been happily answering queries from my fellow reporters just a moment before.
Many people have been asking me on Twitter and in emails what exactly happened Tuesday night. I hope this article answers those questions and I can get back to reporting the news, not being a part of it.
There remain a few bright spots at Breitbart like Brandon Darby, managing editor of the Breitbart Texas vertical:
If the report is accurate (I haven’t discussed with Michelle), then he most definitely should get fired. No excuses. https://t.co/PJvcBh9y1d
— Brandon Darby (@brandondarby) March 10, 2016
Patrick Howley, a reporter for Breitbart, openly questioned Fields’ in tweets that were later deleted:
Breitbart reporter doubts that Michelle Fields was actually grabbed by Trump campaign. https://t.co/acMEDzqQ5G pic.twitter.com/ONOY0fJhKE — Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) March 10, 2016
Howley was then suspended and according to a statement from Breitbart news, the outlet now believes Lewandowski ought to apologize for his actions.
Breitbart spox says @PatrickHowleyDC has been suspended indefinitely for openly questioning @MichelleFields incident pic.twitter.com/AxT6jjp16z
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 10, 2016
Lewandowski finally crept out of the shadows to cite… Charles Johnson:
Michelle Fields is an attention seeker who once claimed Allen West groped her but later went silent. https://t.co/J86Ej42eYx — Corey Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) March 10, 2016
Despite Fields’ own accounting, Trump’s campaign is denying everything:
NEW: Trump campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks responds to allegations campaign manager assaulted Breitbart reporter: pic.twitter.com/LHRMKXzy3K
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 10, 2016
Magic:
I guess these just magically appeared on me @CLewandowski_ @realDonaldTrump. So weird. pic.twitter.com/oD8c4D7tw3 — Michelle Fields (@MichelleFields) March 10, 2016
Contrast Breitbart’s handling of the Trump Aide/Michelle Fields alleged assault, with the outlet’s coverage of a conservative activist who goaded union members into a violent altercation:
Also relevant? Trump’s promises to enact strict, UK-like libel laws for press he deems hostile should he be elected President.
[Featured image from Red Alert Politics]
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Comments
Since it was a press event I am sure that pictures or video will surface. If it’s true he threw her to the ground the guy needs to resign or be fired. If he grabbed her arm and she stumbled he needs to apologize. I’ll suspend judgement on fire or resign in that case until I know more.
I cannot help but feel like isolated incidents are being reported in order to TeaParty the Trump followers. Like the TeaParty folks they will all be vilified as Un-American thugs.
This is not an isolated incident, this is the campaign manager committing a criminal assault. It makes no difference whether he recognized her or not. It’s a crime to assault anyone, whether you know them or not.
“This is not an isolated incident, this is the campaign manager committing a criminal assault. It makes no difference whether he recognized her or not. It’s a crime to assault anyone, whether you know them or not.”
And your proof is….? You were there and saw the whole thing? You have video? Some pictures? How about some tea leaves and an old Ouija board?
Bold accusations for someone who has NOTHING to back them up. Par for the course when it comes to you.
Nor is it an isolated incident for Ms Fields. She has a history of being a “victim”.
Great comment, Mrs. Pelosi.
So which is it? You didn’t recognize the person as a Breitbart reporter and though she was part of the adversarial press (as if that would excuse the behavior.), OR it didn’t happen, even though a Washington Post reporter witnessed it and identified the Trump CM as the batterer?
Ms. Kaye, your “news” story is full of fail. Starting with your claim, in the first sentence, that the reporter was “thrown to the ground,” which not even the purported victim alleges.
Not a Trump supporter.
From Michelle Fields own account on Breitbart: “I almost fell to the ground, but was able to maintain my balance.”
http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/03/10/3276486/
She “almost” fell to the ground? C’mon.What nonsense.
There’s audio of this, Trump supporter
This is the third time this woman has made a claim whose effect is to inject herself into the news. That alone makes her claim suspect.
As to the supposed audio, care to post a link? (To the audio–not to any supposed transcript of the audio).
Even if the transcript circulating on the internet is 100% accurate rendering of the audio, it doesn’t establish who grabbed her. The sole source for that is the strongly anti Trump WaPo reporter.
And, this supposed “take down” occurred at the end of Trump’s presser, in a room filled with reporters and cameras. Yet no one can produce a video of this purported incident. And out of the room filled with people, no one other than the two making the claim assert that they witnessed it.
I think that without more definitive evidence, it’s pretty much impossible to know what actually happened.
For the record, I support Cruz. But if Trump is the nominee, I will be voting for him over her shrillness or the Marxist.
Breitbart’s pro-Trump bias and increasingly gossipy/immature tone is a huge disappointment. It used to be among my regularly-consulted news sources, but I’ve long since lost respect for the organization and deleted the bookmark. If they can’t even stick up for their own employee, to hell with ’em.
Don’t fret too much. What you see in Breitbart (I don’t btw) is more than offset by the anti-Trump bias right here at LI.
I used to love Breitbart but its increasingly rah-rah cheerleading for Trump at all costs in the last couple of months has turned me off. I no longer read it. I did however venture over to see if they had posted stories about the Fields incident. It was the headline story. Sadly, Trump’s blind followers are attacking Fields AND the media- even though Breitbart has been behind Trump 1000 per cent
It is more likely that it was another reporter jockeying for position that pulled on her arm. Maybe the very WaPo reporter who then tried to blame it on Lewandowski. She never saw Lewandowski next to her but the WaPo and other reporters were definitely next to her and within arms reach.
Most likely explanation IMHO. WaPo reporter pulled on her arm to manufacturer a story to write about. Pull her real hard, blame it on Lewandowski and then immediately start getting quotes for an Anti-Trump story in WaPo. That is FAR MORE LIKELY to be the truth than what is being reported.
Ms. Fields has absolutely no idea who pulled on her arm. She didn’t see the person who did it. The only person who claims to have seen it was the anti-Trump WaPo reporter.
This whole thing stinks and naturally since it is anti-Trump Kimberlee is nose deep into it.
And here’ the pic proving CL was nowhere near the Fields.
https://twitter.com/mitchellvii/status/708233093430288385
LOL, worthless. He could change position in tenths of a second. What I see that this photo shows is that he is well with in reach and position to have reached Mrs. Fields.
Congratulations on blowing up Mr. Jacobson’s koombayah moment.
How many cameras were there? And no one caught it?
Where’s the police report?
I was going to suggest that but forgot. Thanks for covering.
Of course we know what she says is true because every complaint about assault is truth. Just like every complaint about rape is true.
Then why suspend him for questioning the event? Howley has been suspended indefinitely.
I agree, she should file charges and let the police work this out.
charges have been filed.
https://www.jupiter.fl.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/448
According to this story, Obama doesn’t surround himself with “thugs”. Just ask Miriam Carey, 34, a dental hygienist from Stamford, Connecticut. Oh right. Can’t. She’s actually dead.
Yes, she’s dead, exactly as she should be.
That is not thuggery, that is the secret service doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Lewandowsky, on the other hand, had no right to lay his hands on anyone.
While tragic they secret service was completely justified in shooting and in my view showed far more restraint than they should have. I would have opened fire the minute she hit the bike rack that knocked over an agent.
Just when I think you couldn’t get more wrong about anything you write something like this.
I really like how kimberlee had to rush to the aid of the Union Goons who assaulted some poor guy.
I think we now know Kimberlee is a Hillary voter. That’s where the pro Union Goon vote goes.
Hhillary, Rubio. No difference. Dishonest oily liars.
accusing allen west of harassment?
and getting beaten by a NYC cop with a baton?
now trump’s guy manhandles her?
sounds like michelle fields has a history and could use a good shrink
A good reporter covers a story. She doesn’t let herself become the story.
Um, hello? It’s a whole different ball game when the reporter is assaulted.
“Um, hello? It’s a whole different ball game when the reporter is assaulted.”
Proof? Come on, make some news! Show us that proof that everyone’s looking for.
much ado about very little.
Really? Consider yourself fortunate that you were not in Ms. Fields’ shoes.
At this point in history, firing a key person for grabbing a reporter’s arm is not grounds for firing.
Considering few anti-Trump people care about Al Sharpton visting the White House over 100 times to help orchestrate Obama’s #blacklivesmatters thugs who are beating mutilating people across the nation based on their race, who cares about this crap?
If Andrew was alive today, he would be rolling over in his grave.
The tRump pretzels are hilarious to observe.
Every day they make Baghdad Bob seem more rational.
Yawn!!! This will have no effect on Trump. Try something else guys.
This story has no legs. It is just the usual pabulum, that time after time falls flat when directed at Trump.
But please, if it makes you feel better down vote away. Your down votes won’t change anything. They are just piffling attempts by feckless ineffectual people who can change nothing and convince no one.
So down vote away children. You will still lose in the end.
Here are some of the Legal Insurrection zealots dancing in Blazing Saddles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMK6lzmSk
I haven’t read enough on this to have formed my own opinion as to what actually happened.
All I know is that when something gets reported that so perfectly fits the liberal media narrative — war on women, RethugliKKKan goons, Breitbart is awful, Trump is awful, Washington Post reporter plays the knight in shining armor, it ticks every box! — I’m immediately skeptical.
And this is coming from someone who sees Breitbart.com as a joke and has been highly critical of Trump from the beginning.
It’s a shame that things have gotten to this point, but I’m just about to the “Everything they write is a lie, including ‘and’ and ‘but’” stage when it comes to political reportage.
Tom Maguire, who notes “I am #NeverTrump with a long history of distrusting the media, so take a moment to imagine my angst,” has questions as well. It’s looking like my initial skepticism may have been well-placed.
Don’t trust the media. Even if the story they’re peddling hits all the sweet spots for you. Maybe that should be, especially if the story they’re peddling hits all the sweet spots for you.
“Maybe that should be, especially if the story they’re peddling hits all the sweet spots for you.”
Very good Amy.
DrudgeReport Headline
STONE: CRUZ/BUSH TIES RUN DEEP
Yeah Cruz is not GOPe.
Interesting how the “witness” Ben Terris of the Washington Post has a piece written today which is somewhat of a hit job on the Trump operation. I think I will wait to see the video.
What “hit job?” He was there; he was a witness. Audio has now come out.
It is not as good as the reporter who was punched out by Mayor Daley’s security on national TV.
@Mercyneal
The “hit” I was referring to was his article in the Washington Post today. He covered a lot of other bases. Go read it..
Then she should sue him for battery. Put up or shut up.
The interesting thing is, how different most of these comments would be, if it had of been Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager and not Donald Trump’s.
Why? You expect manhandling and mayhem by a democrat. Punch in the jaw by a Daley goon is just Tuesday in democrat land.
So, Kemberlee, are you now going to report that story was a HOAX and apologize for it?
“New video of Donald Trump’s press conference Tuesday evening shows that the Washington Post’s account of an altercation involving Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields could not possibly have happened as Ben Terris reported.
In conducting our own due diligence, we have reviewed as much video footage and other evidence as possible, and present it in the interest of transparency.
Contrary to what Donald Trump said Thursday evening after the GOP debate, the incident certainly happened. However, the person who made contact with Fields was likely not Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.”
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/11/trump-presser-ben-terris-misidentified/
Agree. This story does definitely need to be updated.
Funny that article has now been updated and changed, it now shows video of the thug reaching in the reporters direction and the title now reads.
“The Scrum: Video Shows Lewandowski Reaching in Michelle Fields’s Direction”
Humm
Very interesting. Looks like the whole story is still “evolving.” It reminds me of the “rule” about reportage in the immediate aftermath of mass shootings: take everything you hear in the first 24 hours with a grain of salt.
Andrew Breitbart was a visionary and an important figure for the movement. I’ve long since stopped reading breitbart.com though – it’s poorly reported, poorly edited, and the community is a cesspool.
The reporter, however, needs to sue the sh* out of Corey L., get a stayaway order against him, and call Donald J. Trump as a witness at the hearing for the order.
Corey L., however, needs to sue the sh* out of the reporter., get a stayaway order against her/WP, and call the Washington Pis as a witness at the hearing for the order.
You need to keep up and quit swallowing the left wing swill.
It didn’t happen.
Why, she has bruises and she believes that they were caused by Corey. It is not libel or slander if you honestly believe it to be true. There is nothing he can sue for.
Until or unless a Donald J Trump type succeeds in eviscerating the First Amendment…
sarc, based on the 2nd para of the above comment
Good God, do you not have editors to write these headlines? Protect the reporter? From what?
Is a CIA hit squad following her like Jason Bourne? Is the mean old Campaign guy seen a dozen feet away in the picture chasing her down for a shot at her other arm? Is the Trump campaign even now plotting to poison her mocha latte with Ex lax? Quit the hyperventilating.
Protect. Maybe try, “Support” or “Back Up” or “Stand By” but “Protect” pure hyperbole.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – One of the best things about the Trump candidacy is it shows up people for who they are.
Take the case here. A left wing reporter, backed by a left wing rag, accuses a republican nominee / staff of thuggery – and you hacks all buy into it because you want to believe it about the hated Trump.
You’re no different than the left. You will jump on any smear bandwagon without a thought as long as it supports your putrid belief system.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves. But I suspect, like the left, you have no shame.
Kimberlee:
“Also relevant? Trump’s promises to enact strict, UK-like libel laws for press he deems hostile should he be elected President.”
You should be feeling real foolish about now.
More proof that Trump is a progressive lefty lying about his positions to get elected. Thanks for pointing this out.
I’m still worried about “Trump’s promises to enact strict, UK-like libel laws for press he deems hostile should he be elected President.” Completely apart from this story, that’s a political platform that should worry anyone who cares about our Constitution.
I’m sorry, but I fail to see anything to get upset about here. Nowhere in this account, or any other that I have seen, has anyone ever presented any reason WHY the campaign manager grabbed the reporter’s arm. Let’s say, for the moment, that it did happen. Let’s assume that the reporter staggered, but did not fall. Why would the campaign manager do this? Was the reporter going somewhere she should not be going? Was she causing a disturbance? Was the campaign manager attempting to move her aside so that he could pass? What we have is a woman whose arm was probably grabbed and pulled, for an unknown reason. In a room full of video and photo media, no one captures this at all. Then the main witness is a reporter for a media outlet which has been notoriously anti-Trump. Did it actually happen? Maybe. But, even if it did, it was simply normal press box behavior. I have seen a group of reporters battling each other as though they were in a rugby scrum to ask a question. Until someone can put forth a reasonable reason why this should have evil overtones, it is a nothing story.
Try to keep up.
Breitbart has been forced into a semi-retraction, soon to become a full retraction.
“New video of Donald Trump’s press conference Tuesday evening shows that the Washington Post’s account of an altercation involving Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields could not possibly have happened as Ben Terris reported.
In conducting our own due diligence, we have reviewed as much video footage and other evidence as possible, and present it in the interest of transparency.
. . . the person who made contact with Fields was likely not Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.”
And there are more updates at the site.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/11/trump-presser-ben-terris-misidentified/
Uhh, I wouldn’t hold my breath for that retraction anytime soon.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2016/03/11/update-breitbart-news-statement-trump-claim-about-michelle-fields-contradicts-the-evidence/
Why would the campaign manager manhandle a reporter? He probably did it without thinking or actually intending to knock her down or almost knock her down. Even if it did happen I am reasonably sure that he did not do it with intent.
“Was the reporter going somewhere she should not be going? Was she causing a disturbance? Was the campaign manager attempting to move her aside so that he could pass?”
All of which is completely irrelevant since the last time I checked a campaign manager is not a Law Enforcement Officer of any type and has exactly zero right to lay his hands on anyone unless it is in self defense.
“In a room full of video and photo media, no one captures this at all.”
Ahhh, but now there is video of him moving towards and from what I can see reaching in her direction.
“Maybe. But, even if it did, it was simply normal press box behavior.”
The reporters around where fairly widely spaced, they weren’t fighting for position as you suggest. Also, just because something is “normal press box behavior” doesn’t make it ok or acceptable. It used to be “normal behavior” for bosses to smack female employee’s on the bottom but we have moved past that as well.
“Until someone can put forth a reasonable reason why this should have evil overtones, it is a nothing story.”
I haven’t seen anyone suggest that it was an outright act of evil. In fact I would guess that the guy probably doesn’t even remember it that well and I certainly don’t believe that he meant to almost knock a reporter down. Trump may surround himself with like minded thugs but they aren’t stupid, especially not the campaign manager.
This is starting to remind me of the whole “But I did not inhale” fiasco.
This would have already been over with if he had just come out and said; “I did not realize that I had grabbed Mrs. Fields. I was simply trying to help clear the way to leave and I did not realize that I had knocked her off balance and certainly did not intend to do so. I deeply apologize to Mrs. Fields and hope we can continue to work together for the remainder of the campaign season. I will also be more careful when helping to clear the way for Mr. Trump.”
Hell that would have worked regardless of if he did it or not.
This would be over with and done. Just like Clinton should have said; “Yes, I experimented with Pot as a youth but found that it was not for me.” That would have been the end of that one as well.
“Hell that would have worked regardless of if he did it or not.”
Have you lost your mind? I have no idea what happened. But I certainly don’t put it past the left to make shit up, or make a mountain out of a molehill, like they always do.
But you’re suggesting that someone that did nothing go ahead and admit they did, mind boggling.
There is video of him doing it you dimwit. Did he mean to do it, no I don’t think so, but the video shows him reaching for Fields.