CNN Story About Source of Trump Wrestling Video Draws Backlash
In a statement, Matt Dornic, a spokesman for the network, said
that “CNN decided not to publish the name of the Reddit user out of concern for his safety,” and that “any assertion that the network blackmailed or coerced him is false.”
The user apologized and deleted his Reddit account before speaking with Mr. Kaczynski, the statement said.
In addition, he said his statement could serve as an example to others not to do the same.”
It continued: “CNN reserves the right to publish his identity should any of that change.”
A hashtag, #CNNBlackmail, lit up among people, especially on the right, claiming CNN was pressuring the Reddit user not to mock the network again.
https://t.co/9FL6EvTikx
CNN specifically choose not to reveal this guy’s identity and to say we threatened anyone is a total lie.https://t.co/f02hLaVRqu
In another tweet, Mr. Kaczynski said the Reddit user had called him after the story’s publication
and told him: “I am in total agreement with your statement.
Mr. Kaczynski flatly denied the claim, saying that the user was an adult and that Mr. Trump and others were intentionally “spreading misinformation.”
The network has been a frequent target of attacks from the right as it covers the Trump administration.
CNN said on Tuesday that it had found and spoken to the Reddit user, who had apologized for creating the video and other posts
that were racist and anti-Semitic, including one that added Jewish stars to photos of CNN personalities.
