On Friday’s Good Morning America, ABC correspondent Cecilia Vega claimed that President Trump was violating the spirit of political unity following Wednesday’s shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise by taking to Twitter to criticize the ongoing Russia investigation. Of course there was no criticism of The Washington Post putting out a report on the day of the shooting based on anonymous illegal leaks claiming the President was a target of the investigation.
Vega began the segment by proclaiming: “News that the President himself is being investigated for possible obstruction of justice has set him off. He is on a Twitter tirade.” She declared that Trump was “lashing out at The Washington Post report that he is now the subject of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible obstruction of justice. The President calling it a ‘phony story’ and ‘the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history – led by some very bad and conflicted people.’”
Moments later, a soundbite ran of an unidentified reporter pressing the President to comment on the investigation during a White House event on Thursday: “Mr. President, do you believe that you are under investigation now?” Vega noted: “No comment from President Trump, instead he called for unity in the wake of this week’s shooting.” However, she hastened to add:
But less than five hours later, he was back on the attack. This time going after Democrats and his old opponent....A far cry from his plea issued just hours earlier in the name of his friend Steve Scalise. That injured Congressman now fighting for his life.
The reporter revealed the offending tweet in question: “‘Why,’ he wrote, ‘is that Hillary Clinton’s family and Dems dealing with Russia are not looked at, but my non-dealings are?’” To some journalists that would actually be considered a fair question worthy of examination, but to Vega it’s just a “tirade.”
Here are excerpts of the June 16 report:
7:09 AM ET
(...)
CECILIA VEGA: News that the President himself is being investigated for possible obstruction of justice has set him off. He is on a Twitter tirade.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump Lashes Out at Russia Investigation; Blasts “Single Greatest Witch Hunt” in History]
VEGA: The President took to Twitter, lashing out at The Washington Post report that he is now the subject of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible obstruction of justice. The President calling it a “phony story” and “the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history – led by some very bad and conflicted people.”
(...)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Mr. President, do you believe that you are under investigation now?
VEGA: No comment from President Trump, instead he called for unity in the wake of this week’s shooting.
DONALD TRUMP: It’s more important than ever to help each other, care for each other, and remind each other that we are all united.
VEGA: But less than five hours later, he was back on the attack. This time going after Democrats and his old opponent. “Why,” he wrote, “is that Hillary Clinton’s family and Dems dealing with Russia are not looked at, but my non-dealings are?” A far cry from his plea issued just hours earlier in the name of his friend Steve Scalise. That injured Congressman now fighting for his life.
(...)
