For some reason, CBS This Morning on Thursday decided to devote over six minutes of air time to the leaker of classified information. Live from prison, the show’s hosts interviewed Reality Winner via phone. Many of the questions were softballs, including this one from Norah O’Donnell: “It is the documents you leaked that really brought everyone's attention to the Russians trying to infiltrate and attack our state voting system which at the time was not common knowledge. What has it been like to see the Russia investigation unfold from behind bars?”
If you thought the questions couldn’t get more fawning, they could. O’Donnell followed-up: “Why do you think the government is making an example out of you?” No mention came of the hard-left agenda Winner had prior to leaking. As previously noted, she tweeted tweets like “#FuckingWall,” “being white is terrorism” and "#Trumpisacunt.”
Regarding the leaking of top secret documents, co-host John Dickerson only made a meager attempt at challenging the woman now serving five years in prison: “After you were arrested, you said you didn't think about the consequences of what you did. Now that you know the consequences, do you regret leaking those documents?”
After that interview, The This Morning co-host interviewed Winner’s mom and offered yet more softballs:
You don't believe she's a villain. You believe she's a patriot because she was the first to really raise awareness about what the Russian intelligence unit was trying to do in terms of influencing our election system.
A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
8/30/18
7:31:50 to 7:38:01
6 minutes and 11 secondsJOHN DICKERSON: Reality Winner leaked a secret report on Russian election hacking to the media and will now serve more than five years in prison. That is the longest sentence ever imposed for this kind of violation. The former NSA contractor and Air Force linguist has been held in a Georgia jail since June and waiting transfer to a federal prison after her sentencing last week. The document Winner leaked to the Intercept was the first time the public learned the Russian government tried to infiltrate state election systems in 2016.
NORAH O’DONNELL: She's the first person to be sentenced under the Espionage Act since the Trump administration took office. Only on CBS This Morning, Reality is calling us now from the Lincoln County jail in Georgia for her first television interview. Per her plea agreement, she cannot answer questions about classified material or her motivation for leaking the document. And joining us at the table is her mother, Billie Winner Davis. And Reality, thank you for join us on the phone as you are there in jail. And let me ask you this, because it is the documents you leaked that really brought everyone's attention to the Russians trying to infiltrate and attack our state voting system which at the time was not common knowledge. What has it been like to see the Russia investigation unfold from behind bars?
REALITY WINNER: It's been a little vindicating. But also frustrating.
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O’DONNELL: You leaked these documents to the Intercept and the editor in chief Betsy Reed has said this about you, “Instead of being recognized as a conscience-driven whistle blower whose disclosure helped protect U.S. elections, Winner was prosecuted with vicious resolve.” Why do you think the government is making an example out of you?
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O’DONNELL: Do you believe you now have the support of President Trump?
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DICKERSON: You said you feel vindicated by what happened in the Russia investigation but said this is a mistake. Was this mistake worth it?
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O’DONNELL: After you were arrested, you said you didn't think about the consequences of what you did. Now that you know the consequences, do you regret leaking those documents?
WINNER: Yes. Deeply.
O’DONNELL: Well, Reality Winner, I know this has been your first television interview and joining us from inside of jail, we thank you so much for spending your time with us. I know now that they cut off the time so thank you again and hope to talk to you soon.
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O’DONNELL: Joining us now is Reality's mother Billie. I know you get to speak with your daughter every day. But let me just ask you, to hear what she has been accused of, espionage, treason against her own country, that has been difficult.
BILLIE WINNER-DAVIS: That has been.
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O’DONNELL: You don't believe she's a villain, you believe she's a patriot because she was the first to really raise awareness about what the Russian intelligence unit was trying to do in terms of influencing our election system.
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DICKERSON: Do you think the size of her sentencing is meant to send a message to anybody else who would do this?
