CNN’s president says he has “no tolerance” for the behavior of former contributor Donna Brazile, who reportedly shared debate questions with Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
{mosads}“It hurts all of us,” Jeff Zucker said during an editorial meeting on Tuesday, according to The Huffington Post. He also called Brazile’s reported behavior “unethical” and “disgusting.”
Zucker stressed that CNN staffers working on the presidential debates did not leak any questions, The Huffington Post added.
CNN on Monday confirmed it had cut ties with Brazile, who is currently the interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, amid reports she tipped off Clinton’s team about debate questions.
“On October 14th, CNN accepted Donna Brazile’s resignation as a CNN contributor,” the network said in a statement.
“CNN never gave Brazile access to any questions, prep material, attendee list, background information or meetings in advance of a town hall or debate,” CNN’s statement added.
“We are completely uncomfortable with what we have learned about her interactions with the Clinton campaign while she was a CNN contributor.”
WikiLeaks earlier Monday published a hacked email seemingly showing Brazile alerting Clinton’s camp about a debate question.
Brazile purportedly sent two top Clinton aides an email on March 5 — the day before a CNN Democratic primary debate in Flint, Mich.
“One of the questions directed to HRC tomorrow is from a woman with a rash,” the message’s subject line read.
“Her family has lead poison and she will ask what, if anything, will Hillary do as president to help the ppl of Flint,” Brazile added in the email to John Podesta, Clinton’s campaign chairman, and Jennifer Palmieri, its communications director.
No one question in the debate precisely correlated with Brazile’s warning, but several dealt with Flint’s water crisis.
Brazile has faced scrutiny for another leaked email that suggested she also provided Clinton’s aides with questions before a March 13 town hall.
“From time to time I get the questions in advance,” Brazile purportedly wrote Palmieri on March 12.
Both Brazile and CNN have denied Clinton had advance notice of debate questions.