Stelter: News Anchors Have Secretly Met with Darren Wilson (UPDATED)
Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter broke news Sunday morning: according to his sources, multiple major news anchors have spoken to Officer Darren Wilson in hopes of securing a televised interview. The meetings were secret and off-the-record, and the news organizations would not even confirm that they had happened.
Stelter named NBC’s Matt Lauer, ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, CBS News’ Scott Pelley, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon. He said it was not an exhaustive list. “My sense from my sources is that it’s mostly the anchors doing the talking in these off-the-record meetings, it’s mostly Darren Wilson listening and getting to know the person,” Stelter said.
As Stelter pointed out, Wilson has all but vanished since he shot unarmed teenager Michael Brown, an act that set off weeks of protests. Stelter wondered whether the off-the-record meetings might have influenced coverage of the case in his absence.
UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: After Stelter’s report, Anderson Cooper tweeted that he had met with Wilson, which was nothing out of the ordinary (read more here):
For the record, I met briefly with Darren Wilson a few days ago to see if he wanted to do an interview with me. That's standard procedure
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) November 23, 2014
And Don Lemon:
For those asking, yes I met with Darren Wilson regarding an interview. Not out of the ordinary. @CNNTonight @brianstelter
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) November 23, 2014
We've interviewed the Brown family, Dorian Johnson & all witnesses. Of course we'd want to interview Wilson. @CNNTonight @brianstelter
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) November 23, 2014
FYI #CNN does not pay for interviews. @CNNTonight @brianstelter
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) November 23, 2014
Watch the clip below, via CNN:
[Image via screengrab]
