Investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson schooled a Twitter user accusing her of pushing conspiracy theories about the whistleblower who filed a complaint against President Trump.
The Emmy-award winning writer and host of “Full Measure” locked horns with a verified Twitter user who made the mistake of taking her on in a debate over the different takes on the whistleblower whose complaint about Trump’s July phone conversation with the president of Ukraine sparked House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry.
“If the reporting is correct, it implies the ‘whistleblower’ could have been worried Trump was getting close to uncovering Democrat links to Ukraine’s interference in US elections in 2016,” Attkisson wrote in a piece titled “Who is the ‘Whistleblower’ that’s trying to take down Trump?”
She tweeted the reference on Thursday with a link to the article.
If the reporting is correct, it implies the “whistleblower” could have been worried Trump was getting close to uncovering Democrat links to Ukraine’s interference in US elections in 2016.
Who is the “Whistleblower” that’s trying to take down Trump? https://t.co/toxiiJhnrI— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
Attkisson elaborated on the idea in a follow-up tweet.
In other words, one might say the whistleblower and Democrats who advanced him are allegedly trying to obstruct justice and interfere with Trump admin. national security investigation involving 2016 interference.
(However, other side says it is @realDonaldTrump who was wrong.) https://t.co/pMUfrK6nan— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
This triggered someone named Charles Cooper, with the Twitter handle @coopeydoop, who countered Attkisson by claiming there was not “a whit of evidence” for the theory.
Sharyl, the contention that Ukraine supposedly played a role in the 2016 election is part and parcel of the pro-conspiracy crowd’s playbook. So far, there’s not a whit of evidence to back up their claim. Or perhaps you have new facts? https://t.co/QmUFT0CMVD
— Charles Cooper (@coopeydoop) November 1, 2019
Attkisson fired back, reminding Cooper that “not every conspiracy is false.”
You can say Politico is part of the pro-conspiracy crowd, I suppose, if you like. But as you know, not every conspiracy is false. In fact, most crimes or schemes involving more than one person is technically a conspiracy. https://t.co/9Y1h9ZgwAB
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
She continued to spar with him as he called out her “awfully weak defense.”
If you think the Politico reporting is weak, or if you wish to call it a “conspiracy theory” (#PropagandaAlert) you are entitled to that opinion! But, factually, much of Politico’s reporting has been confirmed by others and seems relevant to today’s discussion. #RealityCheck https://t.co/twfBerT4yO
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
Cooper defended himself, saying he “suggested we try and stick to facts, not unproven conspiracy theories.”
Um, I didn’t say what u claim. I suggested we try and stick to facts, not unproven conspiracy theories. U keep pointing to Politico. Good org but again, have they conducted a full-fledged investigation to back up yr claim? Have they adopted an editorial position to that POV? https://t.co/3dL4opQqgR
— Charles Cooper (@coopeydoop) November 1, 2019
He continued the debate with the journalist who has had three decades of experience as a correspondent and anchor at CBS News, PBS and CNN. Attkisson fired back again.
What “position” Coopey?
Here’s one article, no editorial. Again, you’re free to call Politico or anybody else “conspiratorial” when you disagree with them but … that propaganda phrase only goes so far, factually.
https://t.co/TGFrVR1IqA https://t.co/WptGKgLGU0 pic.twitter.com/INL1cbdh38— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
She also threw his remarks about a “weak” defense back at him before wondering if the two were just “talking apples and oranges.”
Honestly, calling Politico and its reporting “unproven conspiracy theories” when they interviewed the “conspirator” herself to get their facts… seems a little weak. https://t.co/TGFrVR1IqA https://t.co/hIY0avOuBT
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
But Politico is the one publishing the facts I was referring to whereby they concluded Ukraine interfered to help Hillary and hurt Trump… maybe we are talking apples and oranges. https://t.co/OZTmMtf5yX
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
Cooper finally relented, agreeing that perhaps they actually were debating “apples and oranges.”
Thanks. https://t.co/7bGkLAtwMz
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) November 1, 2019
“I’ll leave it there,” he said, as Attkisson responded with a simple, “thanks.”
As one Twitter user commenting on the tweet said, “That’s what a hasty retreat looks like.”
That’s what a hasty retreat looks like.
I think you werr quite a bit more than Coop could handle, Sharyl. You were also exceptionally generous letting him off of the hook. He was well and truly caught.
— K. Wade (@Kwade79) November 1, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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