Three days ago, I was introduced to a man claiming to be U.S. President Rudolfo “Rudy” Ruiz, who was killed in a plane crash on July 4th. In exchange for this exclusive scoop — what my source called “the biggest story in human history” — I was provided with what my source asserted was documentation confirming the “President’s” identity, and was asked to keep our meeting under wraps until 11 a.m. this Sunday, July 30th.

I have obviously decided to run with this story — or more likely, this stunt — well before the weekend. This is a career first for me. I have never burned a source, deliberately broken an embargo, or reneged on an even tentative agreement with a source, but I can’t see a way around it here that also maintains my professional integrity. I have protected plenty of sources whose politics I found repulsive, and withheld information about acts I found shocking or even knew to be criminal in the service of uncovering greater truths. But I refuse to be used as an outright pawn or patsy.