CNN’s Stelter: ‘Hannity Is So Blinded By His Devotion To Trump’ That He Wants Us All Blindfolded
While announcing the indictments from the Mueller investigation of twelve Russian intelligence officers for hacking and conspiracy charges related to the 2016 election, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein took some not-so-veiled shots at cable news pundits and opinion hosts over their commentary on the Russia probe.
During Sunday’s Reliable Sources, CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter brought up Rosenstein’s remarks to specifically target one of the loudest anti-Mueller voices on cable news — Fox News star Sean Hannity. Noting that Rosenstein said that “the partisan warfare, fueled by modern technology, does not fairly reflect the grace, dignity, and unity of the American people,” Stelter said he couldn’t have said it better himself before going after the top-rated cable news host.
“There are too many Sean Hannitys out there,” he stated. “Too many bloviators telling tall tales that distort the truth and deflect attention.”
Stelter went on to say that this starts at the “very top,” pointing out that when the DNC server was hacked then-candidate Donald Trump claimed the Democrats did it to themselves before calling on the DNC to hack Hillary Clinton to get the 33,000 missing emails. It would be a short time later when Trump infamously called on the Russians to hack Clinton, something that has suddenly come back into the spotlight following the new indictments.
“This behavior of deflection and distraction has continued now that Trump is in office,” Stelter said. “It’s egged on by supporters like Hannity who want the Mueller probe to be wiped away.”
He continued, “Hannity is so blinded by his devotion to Trump that he wants the rest of us to be blindfolded too that we never know the extent of Russia’s attack. Sean, if you’re listening right now, think about what Rosenstein said.”
“I want to caution you, the people who speculate about federal investigations usually don’t know all of the relevant facts. We do not try cases on television or in congressional hearings,” Rosenstein said at the indictment announcement said. “We follow the rule of law, which means that we follow procedures, and we reserve judgment.”
Stelter concluded by saying that is “such an important warning” but that he doubts “it will be heeded.”
Watch the clip above, via CNN.
