CNN hosts Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon laid into Sen. Martha McSally Thursday night after she refused to answer a question from CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju and instead call him a "liberal hack."
McSally later said she does not regret describing Raju as a "liberal hack" because, "You know, these CNN reporters, many of them around the Capitol, they are so biased. They are so in cahoots with the Democrats, they so can’t stand the president, and they run around trying to chase Republicans and asked trapping questions."
In turn, Cuomo called McSally a "punk" and that she did herself a "disservice."
"Amazing record of service to this country and she really acted like a punk today. She did a disservice to herself and the seat she holds which was John McCain’s," Cuomo said.
"She wasn’t even elected. She lost through a fluke, like some would say, Trump won, but that’s a whole other show. But through a fluke she was appointed. He actually won. But through a fluke she got the seat," Lemon said. "When she was asked a legitimate question that every single lawmaker, Democrat or Republican who has anything to do with this impeachment trial should be asked, do you want to hear new information? Do you want witnesses? Everyone should be asked that question."
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"Yeah. Sure, there’s no question. She has a tough race on her hands. She’s won a race before, she won in Congress. She has an amazing pedigree. The question is is she ruining it all right now?" Cuomo asked. "If you want to be John McCain, you can’t be doing what she did day. There’s only going to be one John McCain. We know why she’s doing it."
Lemon said it "bothers" him that McSally's insult is "acceptable and even lauded and applauded among a certain group in our country right now because that is not acceptable."
Many of CNN's reporters and hosts criticized McSally throughout the day and the network released an official statement.
"It is extremely unbecoming for a U.S. Senator to sink to this level and treat a member of the press this way for simply doing his job," CNN said.
