CNN counterterrorism analyst Philip Mudd is a bit of a hot head. That's my impression after seeing his immediate reactions to both President Trump's s***hole comment, and now the House Intelligence Committee's announcement that it intends to wrap up the Russia investigation.
While most outlets and media pundits shared their outrage after Trump reportedly referred to Haiti, El Salvador, and African nations as "s***holes" during a discussion on immigration in January, Mudd took his criticism several steps too far. In his interview, he listed off about every racial slur in the book to make his point. "Honkey," "slant-eye," the "n" word. You name it, he said it. And CNN did not censor him.
On Monday night, CNN wanted Mudd's hot take on the House Intelligence Committee Republicans' decision to end witness interviews in their Russia investigation. In their new 150-page report, to be released Tuesday, they reiterate their conclusion that the Trump campaign did not willingly collude with the Kremlin to win the 2016 election. In other words, no use wasting more time and resources.
Cue another outburst from Mudd. His argument starts off somewhat cohesive. He first notes, albeit a bit hysterically, that the Republicans on the committee make no sense when they say they've gathered all the information they need. How can they, he wondered, when several of their witnesses, Steve Bannon included, refused to answer their questions.
"How the heck can they say they got to the bottom of this when witnesses didn't answer their questions?"
He has a point. But, it would have been a stronger one if he hadn't said it with a wild tone. He then became more unraveled when he uttered, “if this report was written on toilet paper paper, I wouldn’t even wipe my ass with it.”
Former CNN panelist Gloria Bolger's eyes bulged at the comment. When Blitzer offered her the mic to speak, she politely noted she wouldn't use those exact words.
Does anyone have footage of Mudd after Trump won the election? Asking for a friend.