CNN hangs Scott Jennings out to dry over his McConnell health claims
CNN made it clear it will not vouch for conservative pundit Scott Jennings' claims about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his health, according to reports on Friday.
CNN told The Daily Beast that Jennings, who was among several Republican insiders claiming they spoke with McConnell this week, was speaking only for himself and that his account does not represent the network's reporting.
"As a CNN Political Commentator, Scott Jennings is not a full-time employee or journalist for the network," a CNN spokesperson told The Beast. "His account of a personal conversation with Senator McConnell reflects his experience and is not CNN reporting."
The statement followed growing criticism that CNN had given Jennings a platform to make unverified claims about the 84-year-old senator, who has been hospitalized since June 14 and whose condition his office has not disclosed. Dispatch audio from that morning referenced an apparent cardiac arrest at an address known to be his, though CNN has not confirmed the details and his office has not named a cause.
Jennings, who previously ran political operations for McConnell's Senate campaigns, told CNN anchor Kasie Hunt on Tuesday that the senator called him that morning and they spoke for about 17 minutes.
"It was good to hear his voice," Jennings said. "Voice sounded strong and sounded like he was keeping up with the news to me."
By Thursday, appearing on Jake Tapper's show, Jennings said McConnell's staff told him the senator was planning to return to work, pushing back on rumors that McConnell is "brain dead" or a "vegetable."
"It sounded to me like somebody who was preparing at some point to go back to work," Jennings said. He added that he knew McConnell "was meeting with his staff today and getting some briefings on a few issues."