Kristen Welker stood out on Friday's NBC Nightly News as the only Big Three journalist that spotlighted how Hillary Clinton returned to using one of her discredited statements about her e-mail scandal. Welker reported that Clinton attempted to "clarify" her "debunked" spin on what FBI Director James Comey disclosed about the issue. She added that the Democrat "then [brought] back one of her previous explanations" — that she "never sent or received anything that was marked classified." The journalist countered this by playing a clip of Comey himself retorting, "That's not true." [video below]
The correspondent wasted little time before playing a clip of Mrs. Clinton's recent contention on Fox News Sunday that "Director Comey said that my answers were truthful; and what I've said is consistent with what I have told the American people." Welker continued that this claim was "debunked by fact checkers, because Comey vouched for her statements to the FBI, but not what she told the public.
The NBC journalist then pointed out how the former secretary of state reused "one of her previous explanations," and included the soundbite of Mrs. Clinton again stating, "I never sent or received anything that was marked classified." Welker followed this with an excerpt from a July 7, 2016 congressional hearing, where Director Comey gave his "that's not true" answer about the Democrat's talking point.
Near the end of her report, the correspondent highlighted that "on trust, Clinton also getting a big boost — former CIA Director Mike Morell, who's worked for Democrats and Republicans, endorsing her — saying, Donald Trump would be a 'dangerous commander-in-chief.'"
ABC's and CBS's evening newscasts didn't set aside full reports on the Democratic presidential nominee's latest remarks on her e-mail segment. Instead, ABC World News Tonight fill-in anchor Tom Llamas asked correspondent Jonathan Karl about the issue at the end of his report on Morell's endorsement:
TOM LLAMAS: Jon, stay with us. I want to ask you about something Hillary Clinton said today — breaking her silence on the latest controversy over her e-mails. Clinton recently said that FBI Director James Comey called her answers — both to the FBI and to the public — quote, 'truthful.' But, in fact, that's not what Cwomey (sic) said — Comey said.
Today, Secretary Clinton was asked if she mischaracterized his words — watch.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Director Comey had said that my answers in my FBI interview were truthful. That's really the bottom line here. I have acknowledged repeatedly that using two e-mail accounts was a mistake; and I take responsibility for that.
LLAMAS: So Jon, does that really clear things up?
JONATHAN KARL: It really doesn't, Tom. She said that she may have 'short-circuited' — that was her word — her previous answer on this. But she again repeated that Comey said her statements were truthful — when, in fact, he directly contradicted some of what she has said about her e-mails — at least, what she said in public.
Altogether, ABC spent 59 seconds on Mrs. Clinton's new explanation.
On CBS Evening News, substitute anchor Maurice DuBois gave a 44-second news brief on the story:
MAURICE DUBOIS: Hillary Clinton says she did not mean to imply that FBI Director James Comey vouches for the truth of her public statements about her e-mails. She seemed to do that in an interview Sunday with Fox's Chris Wallace.
Here was Clinton today.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Director Comey had said that my answers in my FBI interview were truthful. That's really the bottom line here. And I have said — during the interview, and in many other occasions over the past months — that what I told the FBI — which he said was truthful — is consistent with what I have said publicly. So, I may have short-circuited it; and for that I — you know, will try to clarify.
The full transcript of Kristen Welker's report on NBC Nightly News on August 5, 2016:
KRISTEN WELKER (voice-over): I'm Kristen Welker. Tonight, Hillary Clinton on the trust factor—
[NBC News Graphic: "Clinton Clarifies Debunked Answer"]
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: People have count on me and trusted me.
WELKER: While speaking to the National Association of Black and Hispanic Journalists, a new defense on that e-mail controversy — Clinton trying to clarify this comment about FBI Director James Comey.
CLINTON (from interview on July 21, 2016 edition of Fox's Fox News Sunday): Director Comey said that my answers were truthful; and what I've said is consistent with what I have told the American people.
WELKER: That debunked by fact checkers, because Comey vouched for her statements to the FBI, but not what she told the public.
WELKER (on-camera): Is this not undercutting your efforts to rebuild trust with the American people?
CLINTON: Well, I may have short-circuited it; and for that I — you know, will try to clarify.
WELKER (voice-over): But then, bringing back one of her previous explanations.
CLINTON: I never sent or received anything that was marked classified.
WELKER: Despite this testimony from the FBI director.
REP. TREY GOWDY, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA (from July 7, 2016 congressional hearing): Secretary Clinton said there was nothing marked classified on her e-mails, either sent or received. Was that true?
JAMES COMEY, FBI DIRECTOR: That's not true.
WELKER: Tonight, Trump pouncing.
CLINTON (from political ad): I may have short-circuited it; and for that, I—
UNIDENTIFIED MALE ANNOUNCER: Careless, reckless.
WELKER: But on trust, Clinton also getting a big boost — former CIA Director Mike Morell, who's worked for Democrats and Republicans, endorsing her — saying, Donald Trump would be a 'dangerous commander-in-chief.' Kristen Welker, NBC News, Washington.
