The campaign team for President Donald Trump’s reelection effort got verbally slapped down by CNN after they demanded that the network “cease and desist” from showing a recent poll showing the president behind presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden by 14 points.
Incredibly, attorneys for the Trump 2020 campaign had the gall to insist that they would take legal action against CNN if the poll continued to be seen on any of network’s platforms.
Responding to the Trump campaign, CNN attorney David C. Vigilante sent a letter stating:
“To my knowledge, this is the first time in its 40 year history that CNN had been threatened with legal action because an American politician or campaign did not like CNN’s polling results.”
Noting that Trump had hired a GOP-affiliated polling firm to “evaluate” CNN’s latest poll, Vigilante went on to give Trump’s attorney a lesson in the meaning of free speech:
“In any event, McLaughlin was able to evaluate and criticize CNN’s most recent poll because CNN is transparent and publishes its methodology along with its polling results. Because of this, McLaughlin was free to publish his own critique of CNN’s analysis and share his criticisms across the U.S. media landscape. That’s how free speech works. It’s the American way.”
The letter concludes:
“Your letter is factually and legally baseless. It is yet another bad faith attempt by the campaign to threaten litigation to muzzle speech it does not want voters to read or hear. Your allegations and demands are rejected in their entirety.”
Official response from CNN General Counsel to @TeamTrump‘s letter demanding CNN apologize for a poll that shows @JoeBiden leading. pic.twitter.com/pQaGPxsA0y
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) June 10, 2020
CNN host Chris Cuomo also referenced the pathetic attempt by the Trump campaign to shut down the network’s unfavorable poll, remarking Wednesday evening on his show:
“Can you believe that we have to have these conversations?! Can you believe this?! I mean, literally, it would not make it through a screenplay treatment. It just wouldn’t. A week ago he called on state TV over at Fox, they’re his puppets over there at night. To put up a CNN poll. Why am I laughing? Because I don’t want to cry on television, that’s why. I don’t want to cry. It is so sick and sad and obvious: lie, deny, defy. Divide, divide, divide. Divide and conquer. That’s what this president is about. And it worked for him, it got him here. Will it keep him here? That’s up to you, OK?”
Exactly. It’s up to us, the voters. We can make this nightmare end later this year.
Featured Image Via Twitter
