Despite a combined eight hours of air time, the three networks on Friday allowed a scant one minute and 48 seconds to the latest details of Hillary Clinton's evolving e-mail scandal. This, despite the revelation that a top Clinton adviser announced he will plead the Fifth Amendment. In contrast, ABC, NBC and CBS devoted a staggering 41 minutes and 54 seconds to various rock concerts.
Good Morning America only mentioned the story within the context of whether Joe Biden will run for president. This amounted to 27 seconds. Co-host George Stephanopoulos, who donated $75,000 to the Clinton Foundation, noted that the Democrat is "still facing the e-mail questions." He added, "One of her top aides testifying on Capitol Hill yesterday."
Reporter Jon Karl quickly shifted the focus to how this news impacted Joe Biden. Despite a lack of interest in the e-mail scandal, GMA then devoted 12 minutes and 45 seconds to the country band Florida Georgia Line.
Today eked out 47 seconds, just 20 seconds more than GMA. Andrea Mitchell detailed:
ANDREA MITCHELL: Amid new attention on Hillary Clinton's e-mail scandal. Attorneys for Bryan Pagliano, a former aide who set up Clinton's private server in her Chappaqua home, say he'll invoke his Fifth Amendment rights before a congressional committee next week. Republicans are already pouncing.
However, Today journalists were the only ones to feature a quote from a Republican. Senator and presidential candidate Lindsey Graham decried, "Anytime somebody working for you that has to take the Fifth Amendment based on something you did is probably not good for you as a politician."
In contrast to 47 seconds on Clinton, the NBC program offered an incredible 23 minutes and 51 seconds to country singer Brad Paisley.
CBS This Morning on Friday managed 34 seconds on Clinton. Norah O'Donnell quickly explained:
NORAH O'DONNELL: Another close aide to Hillary Clinton is set this morning to appear before lawmakers investigating the deadly Benghazi attacks. It follows testimony, Thursday, by her long-time adviser Cheryl Mills, who spoke with the House Select Committee for more than nine hours. Chairman Trey Gowdy thanked Mills for cooperating. The former State Department aide who helped set up Clinton's private e-mail server, Bryan Pagliano, said this week that he plans to invoke the Fifth Amendment.
Yet, CBS offered five minutes and 18 seconds to the revival of rock and roll festivals in America. CBS, as well as NBC and ABC, apparently have other priorities and rock concerts are simply more important.
On Thursday morning, NBC led with the Clinton staffer pleading the Fifth, giving six minutes and 20 seconds. Good Morning America managed 51 seconds and CBS This Morning just 40 seconds. On Thursday night, CBS skipped the scandal.
Transcripts from the three September 4 programs can be found below:
CBS This Morning
7:09
34 secondsNORAH O'DONNELL: Another close aide to Hillary Clinton is set this morning to appear before lawmakers investigating the deadly Benghazi attacks. It follows testimony, Thursday, by her long-time adviser Cheryl Mills, who spoke with the House Select Committee for more than nine hours. Chairman Trey Gowdy thanked Mills for cooperating. The former State Department aide who helped set up Clinton's private e-mail server, Bryan Pagliano, said this week that he plans to invoke the Fifth Amendment. Her presidential campaign says Clinton has encouraged all of her current and former aides to cooperate. The former Secretary of State is expected to testify October 22nd.
Good Morning America
7:10
27 secondsSTEPHANOPOULOS: Yeah, you can see it. His demeanor so striking there. Now, he said Hillary Clinton not a factor but she is still facing the e-mail questions. One of her top aides testifying on Capitol Hill yesterday.
KARL: Yeah and there's no question that it is a factor as far as those close to him. They look at this race, they see that Hillary Clinton with all the problems dealing with her e-mail issue is clearly vulnerable. They believe she is clearly beatable in a Democratic primary and that is the case that they are making to Democrats as Joe Biden maybes this decision.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay, Jon. Thanks very much.
Today
47 secondsANDREA MITCHELL: Amid new attention on Hillary Clinton's e-mail scandal. Attorneys for Bryan Pagliano, a former aide who set up Clinton’s private server in her Chappaqua home, say he'll invoke his Fifth Amendment rights before a congressional committee next week. Republicans are already pouncing.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM [R-SC]: Anytime somebody working for you that has to take the Fifth Amendment based on something you did is probably not good for you as a politician.
MITCHELL: All of it making for a difficult decision in the days and weeks ahead for the Vice President.
BIDEN: The honest-to-God answer is I just don't know.
MITCHELL: Clinton's State Department chief of staff Cheryl Mills did testify Thursday for more than nine hours, telling the House Benghazi Committee that no work-related e-mail messages have been withheld or destroyed. But Republicans are seizing on the fact that Mills acknowledged making changes to the supposedly independent State Department report that cleared Clinton of any responsibility for Benghazi.
