Far from being set up, Mr. Corker asked that I tape our conversation.

“I know they’re recording it, and I hope you are, too,” he said as two of his aides listened in on other lines, one of them also taping the interview.

As with most on-the-record discussions with an elected official, I was recording our conversation to ensure accuracy.

And after Mr. Corker got off the phone, his two aides made sure I had recorded the call. Like the senator, they wanted to ensure his extraordinary charges were precisely captured.