CNN faced criticism on Wednesday for giving air time to former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, a day after he said at a congressional hearing that he had “no obligation” to be honest with the media.
Lewandowski made his controversial assertion during Tuesday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing, which is probing the possible impeachment of President Donald Trump. Elsewhere in the hearing, Lewandowski refused to answer basic questions and was accused of stalling for time.
On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “New Day,” host Alisyn Camerota challenged Lewandowski (a former paid contributor to CNN) about admitting “the conditions on which you tell the truth.” The pair went back and forth before Camerota asked: “When you lie, Corey, when do you lie? Are you lying now, for instance?”
“I’m as honest as I can be with you, Alisyn,” Lewandowski replied.
Check out the clip here:
New Day
Corey Lewandowski told the House Judiciary that he has "no obligation" to be honest with the media: Alisyn Camerota: When you lie, Corey, when do you lie? Are you lying now, for instance? Corey Lewandowski: I'm as honest as I can be with you https://cnn.it/306o38w
Lewandowski’s failure to give a straight answer, and CNN’s booking of him for the show in the first place, angered many people online. Some accused the network of undermining its credibility.
Many people on Twitter echoed criticism that CNN prime time host Don Lemon has leveled at his colleague and friend Chris Cuomo over previous interviews with Trump 2020 campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.
“For me, it feels beneath the dignity of this network to have someone who just constantly lies and misconstrues things,” Cuomo said in March about the Conway interview. “And having someone on like that is giving them a platform they have not earned.”
mike avila
Having an admitted liar like Corey Lewandowski on your air doesn't prove your 'Both Sides' bona fides, @cnn. It undermines your own credibility. Why give him the platform to keep lying? What's the upside??
Jesse Lehrich
LEWANDOWSKI: of course I lie to the media, they are dirty liars too CNN: Corey is there any way we can get you on this morning!?
Matthew Gertz
A more useful and revealing CNN segment on this topic would be interviewing Jeff Zucker about why he thought it was a good idea to hire Corey Lewandowski.
Judd Legum
This is embarrassing. Lewandowski admitted yesterday that he repeatedly lies on TV and doesn’t think there is anything wrong with it and then was immediately booked by CNN.
Dan Fagin
The Corey "Listening with My Mouth" Lewandowski interview right now on CNN is PEAK ORWELL. Well done, @alisyncamerota.
A Quiet Man
Why do you insist on bringing shameless liars on and try to get some kind of truth out of them? All you do is give them a broader platform to lie and perform for their audience of one.
Jeremy Hooper
Corey: “I have no obligation to be honest with the media.” CNN producers:
Jared Yates Sexton
Corey Lewandowski is on CNN today because CNN knows people will talk about it or watch it even if it’s to be angry that they’re talking about it or watching it. It’s exactly the type of win-win that these businesses depend on and it’s a large reason Donald Trump is president.
Michelle Jones
.@CNN Get Corey Lewandowski off the air.
Ian Millhiser
Cable news makes more sense if you think of it as reality TV rather than as news. Why did CNN have Corey Lewandowsky on right after he said he has no obligation to be honest to media? Because it's not his role to be honest. He's the guy who says "I'm not here to make friends."
Seth Masket
“So are you lying now?” “No.” “Was that a lie?” “Yes.” “Wait, was it?” “You tell me.” [sparks fly, face melts]
David Weissman
Corey Lewandowski: "I have no obligation to be honest with the media because they are just as dishonest as everybody else." @CNN this is your guy.