Rand Paul’s Campaign Accuses CNN of Coordinated Hit to Aid Hillary
Rand Paul’s presidential campaign criticized CNN today after a series of emails revealed that a network reporter teamed up with Hillary Clinton officials to coordinate a series of critical social media posts about Paul and his campaign.
Gawker recently published a emails from State Department official Philippe Reines, one of which revealed that Mike Allen of POLITICO landed a predetermined softball interview with Chelsea Clinton. In a different set of emails, it now appears as if Reines then gave instructions to CNN’s global affairs correspondent, Elise Labott, regarding Hillary Clinton’s testimony during her 2012 hearing on Benghazi:
A reporter who Tweets on request! pic.twitter.com/vdFGrYisgU
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) November 25, 2015
Labott was suspended this week for violating guidelines with an editorialized Tweet about the Syrian refugee bill. The Daily Caller reported that Labott posted favorably about Clinton on Reines’ instruction:
Sen Paul most critical on committee of Clinton, but a little late to the #Benghazi game.Not sure he was at many of the 30 previous briefings
— Elise Labott (@eliselabottcnn) January 23, 2013
After emailing Reines directly to ask if Rand Paul was at the hearings, Labott then shared her tweet with Reines; he responded by saying he had “suggested a good Tweet.” As the correspondence continued between the two, Labott reportedly posted again at Reines’ request:
Clinton: I tried to be transparent. I could have joined the 18 ARBs, kept it classified and then said goodbye. That is not who I am.
— Elise Labott (@eliselabottcnn) January 23, 2013
In a report from Fox, Rand Paul’s chief strategist, Doug Stafford, gave a statement saying that the emails were proof that the liberal media was turning their bias towards his boss:
The liberal media has taken their Clinton sycophancy to a new low. CNN needs to address this bias and lack of journalistic integrity. This email revelation should give Republicans pause as to their coverage and possibility of fair treatment towards Sen. Paul during the next debate. All eyes will be on CNN’s response to their employee colluding with Hillary Clinton in order to attack a prominent U.S. senator on their dime.
[image via screengrab]
