White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham received backlash from taxpayers on Saturday night after she attacked a reporter simply for wondering why a briefing on impeachment was held on a conference call instead of on the record.
Trump is being impeached for abusing his power and obstructing Congress in a Ukraine scandal that continues to grow larger every day as new evidence arises.
One would think this is a crucial time for Grisham to do the job taxpayers pay her to provide, which includes daily press briefings.
But instead of a press briefing, Grisham had her assistant hold a briefing call and forced reporters to attribute the information to “sources close to the President’s legal team,” which drew criticism from CNN’s Oliver Darcy.
In which @hogangidley45 forces reporters on a sanctioned White House briefing call about impeachment to cite info given to “sources close to the President’s legal team.”
Why isn’t this on record given this admin’s history casting doubt on veracity of unnamed sources? pic.twitter.com/SwVwULZXv2
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 19, 2020
He’s not wrong. Trump often complains about the press’ use of anonymous sources, but his own White House communications team is using anonymous sources themselves. It’s hypocritical. And Grisham has not held a single press briefing since she took over the job as press secretary.
Grisham made the mistake of whining about Darcy’s criticism on Twitter, all without even bothering to answer his question.
We make it a point not to “force” anyone on conference calls, which are meant to be helpful to the press corps. I’m sorry you aren’t happy w/ the way it was presented – but we were happy to give so many reporters important info. today. Can we stop w the righteous indignation now? https://t.co/wFQogyuYeY
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) January 19, 2020
Well, her snide remarks did not amuse Twitter users, who demanded that she do her job.
Has there ever been a press Secretary who doesn’t do press briefings? The taxpayers would love to know who you THINK you serve. Because they are not getting press briefings from you but seem to be paying you.
— (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) January 19, 2020
Ghost press sec. says what?
— Chidi®️ (@ChidiNwatu) January 19, 2020
Could you answer @oliverdarcy’s question: “Why isn’t this on record given this admin’s history casting doubt on veracity of unnamed sources?”
— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) January 19, 2020
— skwod (@lieutenantflan) January 19, 2020
Hey Steph, I can call you Steph right? You work for us. Remember that. The American people.
— Juli Shirey (@JuliShirey) January 19, 2020
Yo you work for US. We pay your salary. Hold a presser!
— Susan Hershey Smith (@SusanHershSmith) January 19, 2020
You have been press secretary for 200 days and have held 0 press briefings. Indignation is warranted.
— Name cannot be blank (@Idle0ats) January 19, 2020
When are you going to start working? Seriously. I think we the people should sue for our money back.
— Mark A Dressler (@MADkadZED) January 19, 2020
Press Secretary press conferences: 0
Drunks Driving Under the Influence: 2 pic.twitter.com/ltFYMCRpb3— Once Republican (@oncerepublican) January 19, 2020
Find this room and use it….THIS is your damn office…. pic.twitter.com/epvAomSMgR
— MiloKatzzzzz (@MeMilo) January 19, 2020
Grisham cannot justify taking taxpayer dollars without performing the job she was hired to do. It’s time for her to do her job or resign in disgrace and pay back every penny.
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