Is Don Lemon Saying Eli Lake's Reporting on Susan Rice is a "Diversion"?

Citing an op-ed in The Washington Post written by Paul Waldman of The American Prospect which dismisses the Susan Rice unmasking story as a fake scandal ginned up by right-wing media, CNN's Don Lemon called the story a "distraction" on Monday night.




Lemon is correct to say that this story doesn't substantiate President Trump's claim that former President Obama wiretapped Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign. I made that very point a couple of days ago.


But Lemon is wrong to call this story a diversion and wrong to say he will not "aid and abet the people who are trying to misinform you, the American people." While I firmly believe that Mike Cernovich should be taken with a grain of salt, Eli Lake has an impeccable track record as an investigative journalist. Is Lemon saying Lake's reporting on this story is a "diversion"? Is Lemon saying Lake is trying to misinform the American people? If he is then Lemon is doing Lake a grave disservice. After all, Lake stated in his report that this story did not substantiate Trump's claims that Trump Tower had been wiretapped. If one reads Waldman's WaPo piece, he doesn't deny Lake's story and argues that Rice was justified in her actions.


Whether Don Lemon likes it or not, Susan Rice's actions with regard to persons associated with President Trump is a legitimate news story - Mike Cernovich or no Mike Cernovich. Lemon's efforts to suggest that it isn't only contribute to the distrust of the mainstream media in this country.