Clash erupts on CNN as conservative defends government probes of Trump enemies

A conservative commentator faced pushback from fellow panelists on "CNN This Morning" for justifying the second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey and the federal investigation of TV stations that broadcast Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show.

The Department of Justice secured an indictment against Comey for a social media post spelling out the message "86 47," which prosecutors say represented a violent threat against President Donald Trump, and the Federal Communications Commission, which has directed Walt Disney Co. to file early license renewal applications for its ABC affiliates after Trump and his wife called on the company to fire Kimmel.

"Well, first of all, I justgot to say I do feel bad for allmy Democratic friends who haveto pretend that Jimmy Kimmel isfunny," laughed conservative activist Terry Schilling. "He's a far cry from David Letterman."

"Hey, we're not here for comedy critiques," interrupted host Audie Cornish. "Okay, I'm here for free speech arguments. Whatis the argument now that Republicans are in power abouthow to deal with free speech?"

Schilling changed his demeanor and argued that Trump's critics were playing a game.

"Well, the reality is, is thatthey're playing a game," Schilling said. "Jimmy Kimmel is obviously playing agame. He's getting as close tothat line as possible to causecontroversy, to get moreeyeballs. But the reality is, is if you make jokes about thepresident's death, you getlooked at, you get investigated.The FBI, the Secret Servicecomes to your door. But this,it's just kind of annoying tome because you have James Comeyand, and Kimmel like runningfrom the bit. If you're going tomake the joke, commit to it.Don't be a coward. You made thejokes, you said the things youwere trying to be edgy, own itrespectfully."

Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright heard enough.

"I don't think you want toaddress the real issue here, andthe real issue is convenientspeech," Seawright said. "Republicans want tocelebrate and uplift convenientspeech. What this says to me isthis is another page in thecatalog to silence and suffocatethe voices of people who do notagree with the president andthis administration. We've seenthis at the ballot box with someof the tactics."

"They upliftfree speech when it's convenientfor them or when it fits themold or the mold they want itto, but yet when someonecriticized the president or wesee resistance to the idea ofwhat conservatives who are incharge believe, then all of asudden it becomes a problem," he added, "andI think state-run media is what Republicans in this moment areaiming for."

Schilling took another whack at the topic by asking about President Joe Biden's Department of Justice investigating parents who spoke up at school board meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic, although those cases more accurately involved threats against officials, and Seawright underlined the crucial difference.

"Name a time when anyone fromthe Biden-Harris administrationthreaten the license of a TVnetwork," Seawright said.

"Because the TV networks areall on them, and there werecalls to go after Fox, period," Schilling interjected. "There were calls to go after Fox."

Cornish jumped in to disagree.

"I don't think TV networks treated Biden with loving care," she said. "I mean,they could have easilycomplained about coverage in thesame way."

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