CNN was earning its moniker as the Clinton News Network during their morning show New Day Sunday. For the first political segment of the day, co-host Victor Blackwell wanted to talk about Republican Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence’s unreleased tax returns. Even though the segment was introduced as such and the chyron indicated they would be talking about Pence, all attention was put on Donald Trump’s transparency, while mentions of Hillary Clinton’s were shut down by Blackwell.
During the discussion, Clinton supporter Tharon Johnson argued that criticizing Clinton’s extreme carelessness with classified intelligence was “not relevant” until Trump released his tax returns. Boris Epshteyn, Senior Adviser to the Trump campaign, shot back saying, “You cannot equate not releasing your tax returns voluntarily when under audit and lying to congress, to the FBI, and the American people as Secretary Clinton has done.”
Blackwell stepped in on behalf of Clinton. “Let's go on the record here,” he said, cutting Epshteyn off, “But the facts have to be injected here. You said she lied to the FBI, James Comey the Director of the FBI said she didn't, but go ahead.”
Epshteyn swiftly retorted noting multiple recent incidences where Clinton had lied. Including how she signed off on receiving training to handle classified material and telling the FBI she didn’t; and her claims about turning over all work related emails, which she didn’t.
The CNN host cut Epshteyn off by repeatedly saying “this conversation is about taxes” and condescendingly scolded his guest with “Boris, pause please.” Blackwell then read from a Monmouth University poll saying, “52 percent of voters believe that there's something in those returns that he doesn't want the public to know.” Even though the segment was supposed to be about Pence’s tax returns, CNN had graphics for the Monmouth poll about Trump’s loaded and ready to go. Blackwell also demanded to know if Trump would release the letter from the IRS notifying him of the audit.
Trump’s senior adviser called Blackwell out, “So now you’re calling Donald Trump a liar? Is that what you’re doing Victor?” Intense crosstalk ensued in which Blackwell seemed to admit to his guest’s accusations, “Listen, you asked me if I called him a liar, I’m giving you the numbers. 52 percent of the people don’t believe there’s an audit.”
Epshteyn tried to point out of that Clinton’s own poll numbers about trust are lower than Trumps but Blackwell wasn’t having it. “So the campaign is not going to release the letter? … Listen, the question is about the taxes. Is he going to release the letter confirming that there is an audit,” He kept pressing. Seemingly tired of being talked over, Epshteyn said he didn’t handle Trump’s taxes.
A frustrated Blackwell sniped at his guest, spitting, “I think you were also notified on what the topic was and it’s Pence’s taxes.” Blackwell’s claim the segment was about Pence was false, since all the time was spent on Trump. The only real time spent talking about Pence was during the introduction of the segment.
Transcript below:
CNN
New Day Sunday
September 4, 2016
7:08:46 PM Eastern…
BORIS EPSHTEYN: You cannot equate not releasing your tax returns voluntarily when under audit and lying to congress, to the FBI, and the American people as Secretary Clinton has done.
VICTOR BLACKWELL: Let's go on the record here.
EPSHTEYN: Hold on. May I respond as you told me I would?
[Crosstalk]
BLACKWELL: But the facts have to be injected here. You said she lied to the FBI, James Comey the Director of the FBI said she didn't, but go ahead.
EPSHTEYN: Well, if you look at the notes. Look, there are 58 pages of notes. It's clear that she did. She lied about receiving her training. Either she lied to the FBI or she lied when she signed a nondisclosure form when she said that she did; told the FBI that she did not receive such training. She told congress she'd turn over all her e-mails. We just found out 17,500 e-mails—
BLACKWELL: Alright.
EPSHTEYN:--that were pertinent to work were not turned over.
BLACKWELL: Boris.
EPSHTEYN: There’s absolutely— Hold on, let me finish now. I let you finish.
[Crosstalk]
BLACKWELL: This conversation is about taxes. This conversation is about taxes.
EPSHTEYN: You absolutely cannot talk about transparency, when Hillary Clinton broke the law as secretary of state.
BLACKWELL: Boris, pause please. Let me ask you this. There is in new Monmouth poll out now that shows that more than half— 52 percent of voters believe that there's something in those returns that he doesn't want the public to know.
EPSHTEYN: 70 percent of people don’t believe Hillary Clinton at all.
BLACKWELL: Standby. The 24 percent believe it’s this audit. 52 percent believe it’s something— he's concealing something and it's not an audit. Let's go to the IRS website where there is an audit notification that is sent out. And I’m pulling this right from IRS.gov where it says:
Should your account be selected for audit you’ll be notified in two ways by mail or by phone. In the case of a phone call the IRS will still send a little confirming the audit.
Considering most voters or respondents to this poll don’t believe there’s an audit, can Donald Trump simply release the letter confirming that there is an audit?
EPSHTEYN: So now you’re calling Donald Trump a liar? Is that what you’re doing Victor?
BLACKWELL: 50.
EPSHTEYN: That is absolutely unacceptable.
BLACKWELL: 52 percent of the people who responded—
[Crosstalk]
EPSHTEYN: Let me answer Victor. You asked me a question let me answer.
BLACKWELL: Listen, you asked me if I called him a liar, I’m giving you the numbers. 52 percent of the people don’t believe there’s an audit.
EPSHTEYN: Well, 70 percent of people in this country don’t believe Hillary Clinton on anything. They said that she’s completely untruthful. And a lot of that is because of what’s happened with the FBI as well as the Clinton Foundation.
BLACKWELL: So the campaign is not going to release the letter?
EPSHTEYN: Let’s go to the videotape here. Hillary Clinton has spent her career—
BLACKWELL: Listen, the question is about the taxes. Is he going to release the letter confirming that there is an audit?
EPSHTEYN: He’s already spoken to this. I’m not his tax attorney I’m here to talk about the issues Donald Trumps versus Hillary Clinton.
BLACKWELL: I think you were also notified on what the topic was and it’s Pence’s taxes.
EPSHTEYN: Actually, I was not.
BLACKWELL: Okay. Well, we'll make sure you are in the future.
EPSHTEYN: Thanks Victor, that’d be great.
