Joe Lockhart, who is a CNN political analyst and former press secretary to President Bill Clinton, tweeted on Wednesday that he overheard two Republican senators who were shocked to hear the evidence impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) was presenting in the Senate trial of President Trump.
"Overheard convo between two Republican Senators who only watch Fox News. 'is this stuff real? I haven't heard any of this before. I thought it was all about a server. If half the stuff Schiff is saying is true, we're up sh*t's creek. Hope the White House has exculpatory evidence,'" Lockhart tweeted.
Shortly after sending the tweet, Lockhart, who is also host of the "Words Matter Podcast," then sent a follow up tweet saying that he "maybe...made up the convo, but you know that's exactly what they're thinking."
Ok maybe I made up the convo, but you know that's exactly what they're thinking.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020
Lockhart's tweet went viral, with Democratic Coalition Co-Founder Scott Dworkin parroting the made up the conversation, which also went viral.
BREAKING: GOP Senators are reportedly saying they’ve never heard about any of the evidence that has been presented. And they consider that evidence to be damning. Let me give them some advice. If Obama did the same things and you would vote to remove him, vote to remove Trump.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) January 23, 2020
Lockhart was heavily criticized for the tweet, but he defended the tweet since it was satire and refuses to apologize. Lockhart gave no indication in the tweet that it was satire.
"Satire to make the point that Senators that are deciding the President's fate who only watch Fox News have never heard this stuff before. Because Fox is part of the coverup," he said.
Everyone relax. This is satire. Satire to make the point that Senators that are deciding the President's fate who only watch Fox News have never heard this stuff before. Because Fox is part of the coverup. https://t.co/ktCxCg1Irt
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020
agree. sorry people thought this was real. satire and sarcasm do help make these points though
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020
Seems like I poked the bear today. The purveyors of Pizzagate and the Seth Rich conspiracy are lecturing me on honesty. I told a joke, you guys are a destructive joke that is killing our democracy. Other than that, hope you’re enjoying the trial and have a nice evening
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020
It’s remarkable that the right wing nuts in the country can be so outraged by a comment on the Senate Floor, a tweet, or any commentary critical of the President but can muster no strong feelings about @potus selling out our national security for personal gain. On the level?
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 22, 2020