Dean Altman
People are calling for the resignation of White House press secretary Sarah Sanders after she shared what appeared to be an altered video of CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
Sanders tweeted the video as part of an explanation as to why Acosta had his White House credentials revoked. She and the White House claimed that when an intern tried to take a microphone from Acosta during yesterday’s completely bonkers press conference, he “placed his hands” on the intern. In her tweet, she characterized Acosta’s behavior as “inappropriate.”
But what Sanders neglects to mention is that during that press conference on Wednesday, President Donald Trump and Acosta had a particularly nasty back and forth, in which Trump called Acosta a “rude” and “terrible” person. All this happened after Acosta tried to ask Trump questions about the racist ad his campaign ran to stoke the fears of immigration among his supporter base, as well as the Russia investigation. Those were both things that Trump clearly didn’t want to talk about.
The video that Sanders shared appeared to have been sped up, making it look like Acosta karate chopped the intern’s arm when in reality, that didn’t happen.
We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass. We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video. pic.twitter.com/T8X1Ng912y
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) November 8, 2018
The video that Sanders shared had been tweeted earlier by conspiracy theorist and Info Wars (which is run by Alex Jones) editor Paul Joseph Watson.
CNN shared another version of the video, which shows the events as they actually happened.
Here is a video of the interaction for the world to see: pic.twitter.com/us8u5TWzDz
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 8, 2018
Given that she shared what appears to be a doctored version of the video, many people on Twitter are calling for Sanders’ resignation.
The White House disseminated doctored footage, also disseminated by Infowars, to smear a reporter. This will sound quaint, and has been true for sometime, but Sarah Sanders needs to resign and should be unwelcome in public life. https://t.co/u6GPfkljiK
— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) November 8, 2018
Sarah Huckabee Sanders should resign over this video.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) November 8, 2018
This video clearly shows a White House aide physically assaulting Jim Acosta. You’re a sick twisted fuck, Sarah. You need to resign and seek professional psychiatric treatment.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 8, 2018
Hey Sarah. Please resign. pic.twitter.com/GKOYOadyLA
— josh ruben (@joshruben) November 8, 2018
In days of yore, tweeting out a doctored video cribbed from Infowars would be resignation territory for a White House press secretary.
Now, it’s just Thursday.
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) November 8, 2018
Resign #SarahSlanders
— Buisson (@Buisson2020) November 8, 2018
you are a press secretary not an arm of government. your arrogance is incredible RESIGN
— david stocker (@quietdavid) November 8, 2018
The entire world saw CNN’s footage before you went to Alex Jones and got his doctored footage. I have to agree with majority of Twitter users. You need to resign. Not that will happen. This WH thinks it’s above the law and has put this country on a one way course to Autocracy.
— Topanga (@lucy4millie) November 8, 2018
You should resign immediately. You no longer have any credibility.
— 502Gal (@Villegirl808613) November 8, 2018
This is deliberately doctored footage. Multiple news outlets have issues out their raw footage and have confirmed that this is doctored. You must take this down, as well as resign immediately. @ACLU @USCongress @SenKamalaHarris a lawsuit should be pending as soon as possible.
— Todd (@toddwstone) November 8, 2018
A former FBI special agent, Asha Rangappa, claims that Sanders libeled Acosta by publishing a false statement that is damaging to someone’s reputation.
.@PressSec you are seriously tweeting out an obviously doctored video – from InfoWars no less – to substantiate a false accusation of assault against a journalist???
The standard for libel against a public figure is acting with “actual malice,” and your tweet is Exhibit A. https://t.co/G6JKx3ZrpN
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) November 8, 2018
Sanders stands by her original comments, however. According to HuffPost, Sanders gave a statement Thursday afternoon saying, “The question is: did the reporter make contact or not? The video is clear, he did. We stand by our statement.”
h/t HuffPost
