ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Former Gov. Sarah Palin is blasting away at the father of her grandson, issuing a blistering statement today that impugns Levi Johnston’s motives in continuing to speak out against the Palin family, and attacks his decision to pose for “Playgirl.”
In a statement issued this afternoon, Palin, R-Alaska, said: “We have purposefully ignored the mean spirited, malicious and untrue attacks on our family. We, like many, are appalled at the inflammatory statements being made or implied.”
“Trig is our 'blessed little angel' who knows it and is lovingly called that every day of his life. Even the thought that anyone would refer to Trig by any disparaging name is sickening and sad.”
Palin also attacks CBS, which aired the first part of an interview with Johnston on “The Early Show” this morning.
“CBS should be ashamed for continually providing a forum to propagate lies. Consider the source of the most recent attention-getting lies — those who would sell their body for money reflect a desperate need for attention and are likely to say and do anything for even more attention,” Palin says in the statement.
The attack comes after Johnston hinted this morning that he has damaging revelations he can make about Palin.
“There are some things that I have that are huge. And I haven't said them because I'm not gonna hurt her that way,” he said.
“I have things that can, you know — that would get her in trouble, and could hurt her. Will hurt her. But I'm not gonna go that far. You know, I mean, if I really wanted to hurt her, I could, very easily. But there's — I'm not gonna do it. I'm not going that far.”
Also in the interview, Johnston expanded on an allegation he made in an interview with Vanity Fair, that Palin regularly refers to her youngest child, Trig, as “retarded” — a charge Sarah Palin denies. Trig Palin has Down syndrome.
“I was just in shock for the first time I heard it,” Johnston told CBS. “And then she'd say it regularly. And I think she was joking, but it doesn't make it right.”
Palin’s memoir, “Going Rogue,” publishes next month.
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