CNN commentator April Ryan claims she didn't know what she was getting into when she agreed to moderate a "grassroots event" featuring 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg this weekend in Washington, D.C. Here's how the event was advertised.
CNN political analyst April Ryan is moderating a "grassroots fundraiser event" for 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, with tickets going as high as $500: https://t.co/yKlHmMssIh
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) October 18, 2019
Having realized the conflict of interest she had placed herself in as a journalist, Ryan, who also works as a White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, is now backing out of the event. She explained on Twitter that the Buttigieg campaign did not make it clear that the venue was going to be a fundraiser. She looks forward to chatting with the South Bend, Indiana mayor at a "more appropriate" place.
I agreed to interview Pete Buttigieg this weekend – the campaign was not clear that the venue would be a fundraiser. We’ll be rescheduling the interview to a more appropriate time/place. Looking forward to asking him the tough questions the AURN audience wants answers to.
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) October 18, 2019
Yet, critics were quick to note that Buttigieg also invited Ryan to be his guest at the Congressional Black Caucus dinner in September.
Thank you @PeteButtigieg for inviting me to be your guest at the CBC Dinner. The last time I was invited to the dinner by a presidential candidate was @barackobama. You know what happened after that! We also… https://t.co/ONias6pQg7
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) September 15, 2019