Could this be considered a conflict of interest?
Former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is still being paid by the presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s campaign while simultaneously drawing a salary as a CNN contributor to discuss the candidate on-air, according to the network.
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and host Don Lemon noted that Lewandowski is “still receiving severance from the Trump campaign” while introducing him in July 11 and July 12 segments.
Trump’s former mini-me has been working with CNN for three weeks, taking the position shortly after being released from his duties with Trump’s campaign. It would seem, however, that when he was released, all the ties were not cut, and his loyalties have followed him to his new job.
Media observers have harshly criticized CNN over Lewandowski’s hiring pointing to his non-disclosure and likely non-disparagement agreements with the Trump campaign as “profoundly disturbing” ethical conflicts. Since his hiring, Lewandowski has by his own admission continued to advise the Trump campaign, even pushing a camera away from the candidate during a campaign stop.
In his on-air appearances, Lewandowski has acted more like a spokesman for the campaign than as an independent commentator, defending all of Trump’s actions in a way that, as one Washington Post reporter noted, indicates he “has not yet transitioned out of his role as a Trump employee.”
We all know the media is corrupt. That’s not shocking anyone who has been paying attention. This may take it to an entirely new level.
The network’s defenders have pointed out that political operatives regularly join the ranks of paid on-air pundits, and noted that CNN also employs contributors with ties to Hillary Clinton’s campaign. But employing a contributor who continues to be paid by the candidate whose performance and positions he is being asked to analyze appears unprecedented.
How frustrating for the American public to see that both sides of the aisle, Democrat and Republican, are infested with charlatans, hoods, and elitists who feel they are above all law and decorum.
We used to have a media that would crack down on blatant government deception, not facilitate it.
We used to.
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