(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Before fleeing a Tuesday press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly refused to comment on the long-awaited report released by Special Counsel John Durham, who found that the DOJ and FBI should not have investigated the ludicrous allegations of Russian collusion.
“What’s the White House reaction to Special Counsel John Durham’s report on how the FBI handled the Trump-Russia probe?” Philip Wegmann, a reporter with RealClear Politics, asked the White House talker.
Jean-Pierre, who came under fire for previously touting the baseless lies that the Trump 2016 campaign colluded with Russian, refused to answer regarding the Biden administration’s reaction to the findings.
“I would leave it to the Department of Justice to speak to,” Jean-Pierre claimed.
In a follow-up question, Wegmann pressed on the White House’s assessment of DOJ’s independence and how the Durham report questioned the handling of then-candidate Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
“[Biden] talks often about how he wants DOJ and FBI to remain independent and above the fray. That report seems to reflect the opposite,” the reporter told Jean-Pierre. “Does he agree with Special Counsel Durham that there needs to be wholesale changes at the FBI?” Wegman asked.
Jean-Pierre doubled down on her refusal to comment, passing all questions to the DOJ.
“Again, that is with the Department of Justice,” she said.
“That’s not something I’m going to speak to from the podium. As you just stated in your question, we believe in [an] independent Department of Justice, that’s what the president said when he was running and that’s what the president has said the last two years,” Jean-Pierre added, before storming out from the White House press briefing.
Several conservative personalities called out the White House for refusing to address the bombshell report.
“Karine Jean-Pierre literally runs away when asked about Durham report…,” conservative commentator Tim Young blasted on Twitter.
In reaction to Jean-Pierre’s abrupt exit from the podium, one Twitter user said, “Run Forest, RUN!!!”
Flynn, Manafort and The Donald himself (inviting Russia to partake in espionage on our election) #PutinLoveAffair https://t.co/NYrozwq1NT
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@K_JeanPierre) December 12, 2016
The White House press secretary claimed several times, without evidence, that Trump was somehow tied to Russia.
In a 2018 embarrassing interview on MSNBC’s Hardball, host Chris Matthews pressed Jean-Pierre on why she believed Trump had colluded with Russia. “I want an answer. Do you think he’s guilty,” Matthews asked.
“I think he’s crazy,” she said, later adding, “I think he’s guilty.”
The tense exchange ended with Jean-Pierre saying, “There is something that’s going to come out about Russia. Remember, there’s money laundering,”
2018:
"I want an answer. Do you think [President Trump] is guilty?"
Karine Jean-Pierre: "Yes … There is something that's going to come out about Russia. Remember, there's money laundering!" pic.twitter.com/3SrIqjg0DX
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 16, 2023
