After all three network morning newscasts dedicated time on Wednesday to the release of the latest batch of Hillary Clinton e-mails, their evening news counterparts saw things differently by choosing to ignore the story altogether and the further questions they raised about Clinton’s relationship with former confidante Sidney Blumenthal and the retroactive classification of 25 e-mails.
With ABC, CBS, and NBC missing in action on this Clinton scandal, the Fox News Channel (FNC) program Special Report led off its Wednesday show with a thorough, four-minute-and-two-second segment on the e-mails from chief White House correspondent Ed Henry from the State Department.
Host Bret Baier explained prior to Henry’s report that “[w]e're getting new insights tonight on just how much Hillary Clinton ignored President Obama's wishes during her work as secretary of state” as she “us[ed] a private e-mail address and server” and “sought substantial help from an adviser who had been essentially blackballed by the White House.”
Henry picked up from there and pointed to how Clinton had “vowed in March she never sent classified information from her unsecure private e-mail server” despite the reality that, on Wednesday:
Admiral John Kirby confirmed the State Department held back about 25 of Clinton's e-mails that were deemed classified after the fact. Clinton aides scrambled to insist retroactive classification does not change the fact they were unclassified when first sent.
Concerning Blumenthal, Henry communicated that e-mails show the former secretary of state used him “as early as 2009 to conduct sensitive diplomatic matters, even though Blumenthal had been blocked from joining her staff by some of President Obama's aides because of political dirty tricks from 2008.”
Henry continued to do the work that his network counterparts wouldn’t on Wednesday night when he told viewers that “[w]hile Clinton aides were secretive about sharing her personal e-mail address, White House aides eventually knew in 2009 she was not using State Department e-mail.”
In contrast to coverage on the network morning newscasts, Henry highlighted how former senior White House adviser David Axelrod “seemingly contradict[ed]” his “claim this month he was surprised Bill Daley had no idea Clinton was using a private server” when the e-mail dump showed that Axelrod had “sent Clinton a get-well message on her private account” in 2009.
Henry ended by observing that the Obama administration’s decision to “shield separate Clinton e-mails from the Benghazi committee” on the grounds of “executive privilege” was “a very rare move.”
Instead of even offering a news brief on this round of Hillary’s e-mails, the CBS Evening News spent 38 seconds on a tease and news brief promoting President Obama’s singing of the Davey Crockett theme song earlier Wednesday during an appearance in Tennessee.
Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, that program reserved 17 seconds during its “Instant Index” block to video of a man using a wingsuit to fly in between the close confines of a mountain formation in Switzerland.
The relevant portions of the transcript from FNC’s Special Report with Bret Baier on July 1 can be found below.
FNC’s Special Report with Bret Baier
July 1, 2015
6:00 p.m. Eastern
BRET BAIER: We're getting new insights tonight on just how much Hillary Clinton ignored President Obama's wishes during her work as secretary of state. His secretary of state. On top of violating policy by using a private e-mail address and server to do government business, Clinton also sought substantial help from an adviser who had been essentially blackballed by the White House. We have Fox team coverage tonight. Brit Hume looks at how the latest revelations play into an all too familiar narrative about Clinton's trustworthiness, but we begin with chief White House correspondent Ed Henry who's been going through the latest treasure trove of e-mails at the State Department. Good evening, Ed.
ED HENRY: Good evening, Bret. Well, Hillary Clinton wanted the headline today to be that she's now raised a record-setting $45 million in the early days of this campaign. Her team is dealing tonight with new fallout over what e-mails were released and what e-mails were not released. Hillary Clinton vowed in March she never sent classified information from her unsecure private e-mail server. Yet today, under questioning from Fox, Admiral John Kirby confirmed the State Department held back about 25 of Clinton's e-mails that were deemed classified after the fact. Clinton aides scrambled to insist retroactive classification does not change the fact they were unclassified when first sent.
(....)
HENRY: The e-mails that were released show Clinton used Sidney Blumenthal as early as 2009 to conduct sensitive diplomatic matters, even though Blumenthal had been blocked from joining her staff by some of President Obama's aides because of political dirty tricks from 2008. Officials grew concerned the secret would leak. Then Clinton press aide P.J. Crowley, writing to chief of staff Cheryl Mills in 2009 quote, “FYI we just heard from an A.P. reporter that Sydney outed himself about coming to the Department, mentioning it without realizing he was talking to someone who actually covers our building.” While Clinton recently made this claim.
CLINTON [on 05/22/15]: He sent me unsolicited e-mails.
HENRY: She sent a late night e-mail to Blumenthal in October 2009 saying quote, “Are you still awake? I will call you if you are.” There are plenty of humorous exchanges. Clinton e-mailing she heard on the radio there may be a cabinet meeting. Republicans on the House Select Committee investigating Benghazi said today a far more serious matter is the public only seeing the e-mails Clinton did not already delete.
(....)
HENRY: While Clinton aides were secretive about sharing her personal e-mail address, White House aides eventually knew in 2009 she was not using State Department e-mail. In September 2009, months into the administration, State Department aides were still not sure whether then White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel should be in the loop. Clinton adviser Huma Abedin e-mailing Clinton, quote, “Rahm's assistant is asking your e-mail address. U want me to give him?” Clinton said yes. In June 2009, senior White House adviser David Axelrod sent Clinton a get well message on her private account, seemingly contradicting Axelrod's claim this month he was surprised Bill Daley had no idea Clinton was using a private server.
DAVID AXELROD [on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, 06/17/15]: I think it is unusual. He was the chief of staff. I confess I didn’t – I was there. I was a senior adviser. I didn't know that.
HENRY: And now, Axelrod clarified today he knew Clinton had a personal e-mail account, but did not know she used it exclusively or that she had a personal server. Meanwhile, John Kirby also revealed that to shield separate Clinton e-mails from the Benghazi committee, the administration has now invoked executive privilege, a very rare move.
