Despite a four hour run time, reporters on NBC’s Today on Friday couldn’t be bothered to cover the news that Huma Abedin has been interviewed by the FBI and that Hillary Clinton will soon. CBS This Morning managed a mere 31 seconds and ABC’s Good Morning America produced a scant 17 seconds. Most of CBS’s half minute coverage was devoted to repeating Clinton talking points.
Co-host Gayle King highlighted a Washington Post story with anonymous sourcing. She touted that the paper “says investigators have found little evidence that Hillary Clinton had malicious intent in using a personal e-mail server when she was Secretary of State.” King parroted, “Clinton's campaign says it believes the review will conclude nothing inappropriate took place.”
The co-host added, “Clinton may still be interviewed by prosecutors and the FBI as they investigate possible mishandling of classified material.”
Over on ABC’s Good Morning America, Amy Robach relayed, “The FBI has questioned Hillary Clinton's top aides as part of the investigation into Clinton's use of a private e-mail server while she was Secretary of State.” More definitively than CBS, Robach suggested, “Clinton is expected to be questioned herself within the next few weeks.”
Even though NBC’s Today airs from 7am until 11am, the program didn’t get to the latest on the Clinton scandal. Instead, the show’s co-hosts found time for frivolous topics, such as promoting Jane Fonda’s new Netflix show. This lasted over five minutes.
In contrast, the NBC Nightly News on Thursday conducted a sit down interview with a Romanian hacker who claims to have accessed Clinton’s unsecured server.
Transcripts of the two news briefs can be found below:
Good Morning America
5/6/16
7:16:49 to 7:17:06
17 secondsAMY ROBACH: Well, the FBI has questioned Hillary Clinton's top aides as part of the investigation into Clinton's use of a private e-mail server while she was Secretary of State. Sources tell ABC News Huma Abedin, one of Clinton's closest advisers, has been questioned. Clinton is expected to be questioned herself within the next few weeks.
CBS This Morning
5/6/16
7:32:19 to 7:32:50
31 secondsGAYLE KING: The Washington Post also says investigators have found little evidence that Hillary Clinton had malicious intent in using a personal e-mail server when she was Secretary of State. Clinton may still be interviewed by prosecutors and the FBI as they investigate possible mishandling of classified material. Reports say that Clinton’s aide Huma Abedin was interviewed by the FBI already. Federal officials tell CBS News that more than one person who were or are part of the Clinton staff have been interviewed. Clinton's campaign says it believes the review will conclude nothing inappropriate took place.
