CNN’s Don Lemon was so incensed at President Trump’s decision to revisit the FBI’s Russia investigation this weekend that it prompted a seething monologue into the commander in chief’s motivations.
At issue for the anchor was a retweet by Mr. Trump of conservative podcast host David J. Harris Jr., which stated: “Evidence has surfaced that indicates Barack Obama was the one running the Russian hoax.”
Mr. Harris’ piece referenced a January 2017 FBI document that has been unsealed yet redacted on its Crossfire Razor investigation into Gen. Michael Flynn.
“We need to discuss what happens if DOJ directs us, or directly tells, VPOTUS or anyone else about the [redacted] specifically w/r/t [with regards to] what we do directly with him,” the document reads. “I think it will be very difficult not to do some sort of overt step with him, a defensive briefing or interview under light ’defensive briefing’ pretext unless WH specifically directs us not to.”
The conservative’s piece erroneously referred to Crossfire Razor as Operation Hurricane; Crossfire Hurricane was the agency’s more expansive investigation into Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Mr. Lemon, exasperated, looked into the camera and asked if racism, envy, or other issues were the root of Mr. Trump’s behavior.
“What is it about President Obama that really gets under your skin?” Mr. Lemon asked. “Is it because he’s smarter than you? Better educated? Made it on his own? Didn’t need Daddy’s help? Wife is more accomplished? Better looking?”
The CNN host — who cited his “obligation” to call Mr. Trump a racist in 2018’s Variety Entertainment & Technology NYC Summit — said he was at a loss to describe Mr. Trump’s behavior.
“I don’t know. What is it? What is it about [Mr. Obama]? That he’s a black man that’s accomplished being president? That he punked you on the whole birth certificate thing? What is it about him? Just wondering.”
Mr. Trump has long maintained that he was a victim of a “witch hunt” to undermine his administration from the moment he was elected.
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s 448-page report on the FBI’s extensive Russia investigation ended with zero criminal charges against the president.
Damn, Don. pic.twitter.com/7WJXuV8tn4
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 4, 2020
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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