In a grade-A case of hypocrisy and double standards Thursday, it became clear it’s only the liberal media and Democrats who were allowed to rail against FBI investigations as illegitimate. After spending well over a year decrying President Trump’s attacks on the Special Counsel investigation, it was their turn to claim an FBI investigation was rigged. During World News Tonight, ABC became a mouthpiece for the left.
While their broadcast network competitors CBS and NBC gave voice to Democratic Party criticism of the FBI investigation (including failed VP candidate Tim Kaine calling it a “shame”), they played plenty of soundbites of Republicans praising and supporting it. But on ABC, they ran a report largely dedicated to the investigation’s detractors.
From the get-go, ABC was seeking to spread misinformation. At the top of the report, sensationalist anchor David Muir asserted President Trump was avoiding questions from journalists. “In the meantime, our Jon Karl asking the President, “did you put any limits on the investigation?” The President did not answer,” he claimed.
That assertion was repeated by Karl himself: “The FBI investigation complete, a confident President Trump ignored questions as he left the White House this afternoon.” The problem? What they claimed was the President “ignoring questions” was actually reporters shouting questions from dozens of yards away as Marine One’s engines were going. Someone can’t be “ignoring” you if they can’t actually hear you.
Karl then boosted attacks against the investigation coming from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s far-left lawyers:
In a statement, attorneys for Christine Blasey Ford say, quote, "the investigation conducted over the past five days is a stain on the process, on the FBI and on our American ideal of justice." The FBI never spoke with Ford. In fact, they only interviewed a total of nine people. Ford's lawyers say they suggested eight other possible witnesses, but they were never contacted.
“She did speak to the FBI, and said she submitted the names of more than 20 potential witnesses, none of whom, she claimed, were investigated,” Karl said of Kavanaugh’s second accuser. “‘We can only conclude,’ Ramirez's lawyers said today, ‘That the FBI, or those controlling its investigation, did not want to learn the truth behind Ms. Ramirez's allegations.’” Of course, Karl failed to mention the possibility that the FBI just didn’t find her claims credible.
The only GOP pushback ABC allowed was White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying, “We allowed the FBI to do exactly what they do best. We haven't micromanaged this process.”
In wrapping up the segment, Muir wanted to know if the White House was going to allow for the FBI investigation to be made public. “The bottom line is, this report is almost certainly not going to be released. Both White House officials and Senators and Senate officials have said that they -- privacy concerns of both Kavanaugh and his accusers would lead to not releasing the report,” Karl said.
“And there simply is no precedence. These FBI reports are never actually released publicly,” he admitted.
On top of railing against the FBI investigation, Karl touted former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens coming out against Kavanaugh citing his tone with Democrats. Karl played a soundbite of Kavanaugh sparing with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) and cut out the part where Kavanaugh said he didn’t have a drinking problem.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC's World News Tonight
October 4, 2018
6:37 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: In the meantime, our Jon Karl asking the President, “did you put any limits on the investigation?” The President did not answer. And tonight, in a very rare move, a former supreme court justice is now weighing in, late today, saying that Brett Kavanaugh's behavior last week disqualifies him to be a Supreme Court Justice. Here's Jon Karl.
[Cuts to video]
JON KARL: The FBI investigation complete, a confident President Trump ignored questions as he left the White House this afternoon.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Are you going to release the FBI report?
KARL: Mr. President, did you put any limits on the FBI investigation? Did you put any limits on that investigation?
In a statement, attorneys for Christine Blasey Ford say, quote, "the investigation conducted over the past five days is a stain on the process, on the FBI and on our American ideal of justice." The FBI never spoke with Ford. In fact, they only interviewed a total of nine people. Ford's lawyers say they suggested eight other possible witnesses, but they were never contacted.
And then there is Deborah Ramirez, who accused Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her in college when both of them were drunk. She did speak to the FBI, and said she submitted the names of more than 20 potential witnesses, none of whom, she claimed, were investigated. "We can only conclude," Ramirez's lawyers said today, "That the FBI, or those controlling its investigation, did not want to learn the truth behind Ms. Ramirez's allegations."
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: We allowed the FBI to do exactly what they do best. We haven't micromanaged this process.
KARL: And today, a former Supreme Court Justice is weighing in. John Paul Stevens, 98, a lifelong Republican, nominated to the court by Gerald Ford, had praised Kavanaugh in the past, but today, Stevens said Kavanaugh disqualified himself with the confrontational and partisan tone of his confirmation hearing.
AMY KLOBUCHAR: So, you're saying there's never been a case where you drank so much that you didn't remember what happened the night before or part of what happened?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: You're asking about blackout I don't know, have you?
KLOBUCHAR: Could you answer the question, Judge? Just -- so, you -- that's not happened? Is that your answer?
KAVANAUGH: Yeah, and I'm curious if you have.
KLOBUCHAR: I have no drinking problem, Judge.
KARL: Today, Stevens said Kavanaugh does not belong on the Supreme Court.
JOHN PAUL STEVENS: I think that his performance during the hearings caused me to change my mind.
KARL: Kavanaugh himself has spoken about the importance of nonpartisanship and temperament for a judge.
KAVANAUGH: It's important to have the proper demeanor, to be calm amidst the storm. On the bench, to put I in the vernacular, don't be a jerk. I think that's important.
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: Jon Karl with us live tonight at the White House. And Jon, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, you saw it too, was pushed on whether the FBI report should now be made public at some point. His answer was, "talk to the White House." That's what you do all day long so, what are they saying tonight?
KARL: Well, David, the White House is actually at one point said it was up to the Senate to decide whether or not that report would be released. The bottom line is, this report is almost certainly not going to be released. Both White House officials and Senators and Senate officials have said that they -- privacy concerns of both Kavanaugh and his accusers would lead to not releasing the report. And there simply is no precedence. These FBI reports are never actually released publicly.
MUIR: All right, Jon Karl at the White House tonight. Jon, thank you.
