‘Russia hacked RNC’: Republican lawmaker ‘misspoke’ on CNN
Russian hackers don't have political preferences in US elections, according to Michael McCaul (R-Texas). He claimed the Republican National Committee had also been breached - by Russian hackers of course. No proof was given.
"They are not discriminating one party against other. They have hacked in both parties at the national level. We're not sure why they've released some documents and not others," he said the interview on CNN's Situation Room.
Breaking News: Rep.McCaul says hackers indiscriminate, have hacked into both RNC & DNC at national level #DNCleakpic.twitter.com/d70zJuNPZ2
— Nikki (@NikkiAgain) September 14, 2016
The RNC quickly rejected the claims saying that it had not been hacked.
McCaul's interviewer, Wolf Blitzer, didn't question the claim or asked for any proof.
Several Twitter users queried this statement. McCaul later said that he “misspoke.”
JUST IN from Sen. McCaul:
— Vaughn Sterling (@vplus) September 14, 2016
"I misspoke by asserting that the RNC was hacked..." pic.twitter.com/M7GPgbymJi
RNC has some 'splaining to do. https://t.co/lpMl3769pT
— AnotherVoice (@AnotherVoice3) September 14, 2016
September 13th: RNC loves the Internet & @wikileaks#DNCLeaks
— Jacob Waddell (@J_WADDS) September 14, 2016
September 14th: Gets hacked... pic.twitter.com/t7BTKJKR6W
@CNN Where is the proof of the Russian hacking of the RNC?
— Jane Weiser (@JaneGrader) September 14, 2016
The #RNC not telling the public about its email hack by Russia is pretty important, why won't they confirm?
— VivSilvestri (@VivSilvestri) September 14, 2016
This was not the only anti-Russia statement that went unchecked and unchallenged by CNN. Just over an hour earlier Adam Kinzinger (R-Il) claimed Russia had killed half a million people in Syria.
Kinzinger just accused #Russia of killing 500k people, on national TV. #Propaganda#War um, No fact check? pic.twitter.com/p0iHIkvCk8
— Caleb T. Maupin (@calebmaupin) September 14, 2016
"Donald Trump says we have to work with Russians in some of the toughest places of the world, but frankly, like in Syria, Russia has responsibility for killing almost half a million people, they are tearing apart Ukraine and Georgia," Kinzinger said.
He also claimed that Russia is hacking into DNC because "obviously they have an interest", although noting that "I am not saying that from any proof."
New lows of US politicians, and CNN journalists do not question them pic.twitter.com/P7QjcvgaIh
— Anastasia Serdyukova (@NastySerdyukova) September 14, 2016
Host Jake Tapper didn't question any of the assumptions.