CNN’s Powers deletes Twitter app after harassment claim over Covington criticism

CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers announced she was deleting her Twitter application on Wednesday after she said she was harassed on the popular platform regarding her criticism of the Covington High School students’ interaction with Native American activist Nathan Phillips that went viral over the weekend.

“Every day I get up and say ‘no more Twitter’ and somehow end up back here,” Powers wrote to her more than 300,000 followers. “I always regret it. Deleting the app now.” 

Every day I get up and say “no more Twitter” and somehow end up back here. I always regret it.

Deleting the app now.

— Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) January 23, 2019

I agree with @joshtpm that watching all the videos (which I did) does not change the fundamental problem: the boys disrespecting an Indigenous elder.

The ppl harassing me to change my mind cannot convince me I didn’t see what I saw. Learn to respect difference of opinion. https://t.co/ngUzolxg2T

— Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) January 22, 2019

“This ⁦@washingtonpost⁩ story captures the real lesson of this episode—don’t succumb to orchestrated harassment campaigns against journalists,” Powers wrote in another. 

This ⁦@washingtonpost⁩ story captures the real lesson of this episode—don’t succumb to orchestrated harassment campaigns against journalists.

“The Covington Catholic story went viral. The mainstream media chased it. The Trump Internet pounced.” https://t.co/Bu3zEeIFpE

— Kirsten Powers (@KirstenPowers) January 23, 2019

The tweet was retweeted 193 times but generated more than 3,500 mostly-negative replies. Powers, a longtime Fox News contributor, jumped to CNN in 2016.

She has tweeted more than 11,900 times since joining Twitter.

While Powers said she deleted the app from her phone, the account, which was created in April 2008, is still active.