NBC newsman Chuck Todd today apologized on the air for a curveball misquote of Attorney General William Barr.
During a Meet the Press program Sunday, Todd showed a part of an interview with Barr in which Barr, in response to a question, cited Winston Churchill's maxim that history is written by the winners. Todd smilingly wondered why the attorney general had failed to speak about justice being served.
Barr's comment came following a CBS newswoman's question about how history would view the Justice Department decision to halt prosecution of Gen. Michael Flynn, who had admitted to making false statements to FBI agents about conversations with the Russian ambassador. Barr then added that the rule of law would be served by the withdrawal of charges.
Todd asked guests what they thought of Barr not bothering to talk about justice being served.
Todd's apology comes as a new news boss, veteran NBC executive Cesar Conde, takes the reins from the scandal-ridden Andy Lack who had permitted news operations to veer sharply leftward.
Todd said he made the error "because we only saw the shorter of two clips that CBS did air." Todd said he was unaware that Barr had added, "But I think a fair history would say that it was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law."
Todd is a highly seasoned broadcast newsman, and so it seems quite unprofessional that he or his staff did not check with CBS or that he was not wary of criticizing Barr for something that he easily could actually have said.
Todd's attitude bespeaks a devil-may-care approach toward anything Trump-related, an approach that Lack did little to dissuade.
Conde's record shows no inclination of left-wing pandering. Conde once worked for President George Bush's secretary of state, Colin Powell. Bush is no fan of Trump.
U.S. District Judge Emmett G. Sullivan, who had branded Flynn a traitor, said today he plans to call people before his bench to give opinions on the Justice Department's decision. Flynn's legal team objected, arguing there is no basis for "friend of the court" briefs in criminal cases.
During a Meet the Press program Sunday, Todd showed a part of an interview with Barr in which Barr, in response to a question, cited Winston Churchill's maxim that history is written by the winners. Todd smilingly wondered why the attorney general had failed to speak about justice being served.
Barr's comment came following a CBS newswoman's question about how history would view the Justice Department decision to halt prosecution of Gen. Michael Flynn, who had admitted to making false statements to FBI agents about conversations with the Russian ambassador. Barr then added that the rule of law would be served by the withdrawal of charges.
Todd asked guests what they thought of Barr not bothering to talk about justice being served.
Todd's apology comes as a new news boss, veteran NBC executive Cesar Conde, takes the reins from the scandal-ridden Andy Lack who had permitted news operations to veer sharply leftward.
Todd said he made the error "because we only saw the shorter of two clips that CBS did air." Todd said he was unaware that Barr had added, "But I think a fair history would say that it was a good decision because it upheld the rule of law."
Todd is a highly seasoned broadcast newsman, and so it seems quite unprofessional that he or his staff did not check with CBS or that he was not wary of criticizing Barr for something that he easily could actually have said.
Todd's attitude bespeaks a devil-may-care approach toward anything Trump-related, an approach that Lack did little to dissuade.
Conde's record shows no inclination of left-wing pandering. Conde once worked for President George Bush's secretary of state, Colin Powell. Bush is no fan of Trump.
U.S. District Judge Emmett G. Sullivan, who had branded Flynn a traitor, said today he plans to call people before his bench to give opinions on the Justice Department's decision. Flynn's legal team objected, arguing there is no basis for "friend of the court" briefs in criminal cases.
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