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Captured: Boston 19 Year Old Bombing Suspect Alive And In Custody

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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year old suspect in Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing, has been captured in Watertown, Massachusetts and is in custody as of 8:45 PM EDT. Tsarnaev’s 26-year old brother, Tamerlan, was killed overnight and the younger suspect has been on the run since the two brothers killed an MIT police officer last night.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers — local, state, and federal — converged on a home in Watertown, and as reporters tried to gain information, news emerged that Dzhokhar was holed up in a boat stored in the back yard on a two-story home.

The two Tsarnaev brothers are suspected of exploding two bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured more than 170, many who lost limbs.

Law enforcement officers were concerned Dzhokhar would commit suicide, that he may have been wearing a suicide vest as his older brother reportedly was.

WCVB (image, top) has live video.

CNN:

[View the story “Boston Bombing Suspect Manhunt: Live Updates” on Storify]

Boston Bombing Suspect Manhunt: Live Updates

Storified by David Badash· Fri, Apr 19 2013 17:52:16

Suspect in custody. Officers sweeping the area. Stand by for further info.Boston Police Dept.
WHDH-TV: Boston Marathon bombing suspect in custody and is alive.WTVA NEWS
BREAKING: “He’s alive and in custody” WHDH TVNewsBreaker
Suspect’s body still ‘throwing off heat,’ Boston Police Dept. official tells NBC NewsNBC Nightly News
BREAKING NEWS: Globe photographer can hear police say, “We know you’re in there. Come out on your own terms. Come out with your hands up.”The Boston Globe
BREAKING NEWS: Three people taken into custody in New Bedford as part of Boston Marathon terror bombing investigation.The Boston Globe
PHOTO: Law enforcement approach an area where the bombing suspect is reportedly hiding #manhunt pic.twitter.com/wDd2n43KbmThe Boston Globe
BREAKING NEWS: Neighbors say police officers have told them the suspect in the Watertown backyard is covered in blood.Boston.com News
Amtrak is resuming with limited service tonight between NY & Boston. We expect regular service on Saturday.Amtrak
BREAKING PHOTO: Better shot of boat where suspected #BostonMarathon bomber was hiding out. pic.twitter.com/tilsjcOr04 – @PetesWireNewsBreaker
BREAKING PHOTO: Here comes a helicopter with a spotlight pic.twitter.com/WpI2kG5rhCNewsBreaker
7’s Steve Cooper says there’s some concern among police that this suspect has a bomb strapped to his chest #7newsBrad Tatum
The ultimate goal for law enforcement is to take Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in custody alive just like any other suspect. #wcvbKathy Curran
BREAKING NEWS: Police are using ‘flash bangs’ to disorient and distract the suspect. They have seen him sit up.The Boston Globe
BREAKING NEWS: Police are still concerned that the suspect may be wearing a suicide bomb vest, the source tells the Globe.The Boston Globe
Pete Williams. Police “strongly believe he is wounded and … has been there for much of the day”Sam Stein
“Suspect sitting up” on police scanner per Andrea Mitchell on #MSNBC #BostonBombingsGottaLaff
BREAKING NEWS: Police have taken the cover off the boat containing the man believed to be the Marathon bombing suspect. He’s not moving.The Boston Globe
CBS reporting that man is alive in boatJosh Kraushaar
PHOTO: WCVB is reporting that this is the boat where the suspect was hiding behind this Watertown, MA, home pic.twitter.com/vxyZ7o3qnINewsBreaker
Insane. They’re still looking for one of the bombing suspects. This is what Watertown, MA looks like right now. pic.twitter.com/RIa3IQAzqPRay William Johnson
BREAKING: 2 SWAT rescue vehicles have just gone into the perimeter in Watertown, MA pic.twitter.com/OBF6qlt0qONewsBreaker
PHOTO: Shots fired scene centered on Franklin Street in Watertown. pic.twitter.com/WPZkeEoNfu – @TomlinMNewsBreaker
PHOTO: Robot being deployed in Watertown neighborhood where incident is unfolding (WHDH) twitpic.com/ckiidf – @passantinoNewsBreaker
Live Stream right now: Shots fired in Watertown via WCVB Channel 5 Boston fb.me/sC2geJQ6Latino Rebels
BREAKING NEWS: Marathon bombings suspect pinned down in Watertown, according to source.The Boston Globe
CNN: Rapid Flurry Of Gunfire In Watertown livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/cnn-rapi… via @benjysarlinTPM Livewire
INTERPOL issues global security alert in connection with #Boston marathon bombings at request of #US authoritiesinterpol.int/en/News-and-me…INTERPOL
Seen in #Boston pic.twitter.com/0rf6KXmrFMKaila
#MBTA UPDATE: Limited Service has RESUMED on ALL #MBTA modes except the Commuter Rail. MBCR will resume tomorrow (Saturday Schedule).MBTA
Czech Republic clarifies that the Czech Republic is not Chechnya. Good job, good effort, Internet. bit.ly/11mQIyyBenjy Sarlin
Retweet, subtweet, or just take it! Just spread it. #Manhunt #Watertown #Boston #BostonBombing pic.twitter.com/G5tHhRNZKAAnonymous
“@1045CHUMFM: It’s surreal seeing #Boston so deserted as the #manhunt continues -Ashley pic.twitter.com/5x2aR8qZBw”Sam D
so much freedom and democracy in boston right now i mean i remember this mission on modern warfare 2 pic.twitter.com/RpeW7Jmpinkieran
Gov Deval Patrick takes the podium. instagram.com/p/YSRgBypGgz/Garrett Quinn
MA Governor Patrick: The stay indoors request is lifted in the Boston area; the T transportation system will re-open shortly.CNBC
“We do not have an apprehension of our suspect this afternoon, but we will.” — MA State Police Col. Albenjennifer bendery
Rep. Peter King, who sits on House Intel Committee, on CNN: “No evidence at all” Boston bombers are tied to overseas terrorist groups.jennifer bendery
From CBS’ Bob Orr: FBI interviewed Tamarlan Tsarnaev 2 yrs ago abt extremist ties, found nothing & closed file. More on CBS Evening NewsMajor Garrett
Police car removed from Watertown shooting scene @nbcnightlynews see window is shot out pic.twitter.com/ILLirFMoMcKerry Sanders
FBI takes computer from NJ sister of bomb suspects #bostonbombings #manhunt bit.ly/10o5SqwNBC Charlotte
The scene at sister’s house in NJ @rtvi #tsarnaev #manhunt #bostonbombing pic.twitter.com/tdbWgkQI2bLev Trubkovich
“They’ve found 7 IEDs”: Michael Isikoff on #MSNBCGottaLaff
Rep. Peter King, who sits on House Intel Committee, on CNN: “No evidence at all” Boston bombers are tied to overseas terrorist groups.jennifer bendery
RT @chucktodd: DHS Sec. Napolitano just entered the West Wing.jennifer bendery
BREAKING: With his brother shot by police, Dzhokhor A. Tsarnaev drove over him, 2 law enforcement officials said. – @BostonDotComNewsBreaker
There are 9000-10,000 law enforcement personnel trying to find one guy right now. #ManHuntMichael Skolnik
PHOTO: As manhunt continues, sign reads ‘Shelter in place remains in effect in #Boston’ pic.twitter.com/M0aT0Gx4AC – @justinjm1NewsBreaker
CBS News: Investigators combing through Boston apt. of bombing suspects; called a “bomb making factory.” – @chrismayphillyNewsBreaker
UPDATE: Seven IEDs recovered so far—in Watertown & some at house in Cambridge, police officials tell NBC. – @RockCenterNBCNewsBreaker
“@OnlyInBOS: UNREAL PHOTO via @MunKYBoii Just got searched for safety measures for the #manhunt in #watertown pic.twitter.com/CffcSKvpJ5″Rachael Gafford
PHOTO: Pres. Obama met with his national security team today on developments in the Boston bombings investigation. pic.twitter.com/z6nh24ZGnMThe White House
Anzor Tsarnaev, father of #Boston bomb suspects Dzhokhar & Tamerlan, says he believes secret services framed sons bbc.in/ZCaItUBBC News (World)
Boston suspects’ father says he believes sons being framed . Also says police investigating #Boston bombings are cowardsCBC News Alerts
Bomb Suspect’s Dad Warns ‘All Hell Will Break Loose’ If Son Dies: The father of suspected Boston Marathon bomb… bit.ly/11LU0LyBBC NEWS
NBC: This AM the President convened a meeting of national security team, in the Situation Room of the White House, to get updates on manhuntNewsBreaker
major mistake from @Fox25news. The White House situation room has been activated. Meaning there is a meeting in it. #PhewMichael Skolnik
CORRECTION: White House situation room was activated. #bostonmarathonFOX 25 News Boston
Friend and former high school classmate, Ty Barros, 21, calls Dzhokhar “a normal regular American kid” to.pbs.org/12sKyxRNewsHour
“He was very gentle, soft spoken. We smoked a lot of weed together, just casual, hanging out.” – Ty Barros on Jahar in high school.Rebecca Ostriker
MIT students are posting their memories of fallen officer Sean Collier here: seancolliermemories.tumblr.com – @AlexJamesFitz pic.twitter.com/qlciC4BukrNewsBreaker
BREAKING: 15 police officers were taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hosp. in Brighton, MA for injuries from last night’s police activity – @ABCNewsBreaker
Kurt Schwartz, Director of Mass Emerg Mgment, says employees in #Boston area who are at work are encouraged to leave work and drive home.Andrea Mitchell
“They’ve gone through about 70% of this area – they have more to go.” Kerry Sanders in #Watertown #Boston #manhunt #bostonbombingAndrea Mitchell
“This is the worst of both worlds–they embedded themselves in US culture–and then they traveled overseas” -Roger Cressey #boston #manhuntAndrea Mitchell
Cressey is a former member of the United States National Security Council
UPDATE: All #Amtrak service is suspended NY to Boston indefinitely. Trains are currently operating as scheduled DC – NY.Amtrak
Acela Express & Northeast Regional service is suspended indefinitely between Providence, RI & Boston due to ongoing police activity.Amtrak Northeast
INCREDIBLE PHOTO OF SWAT TEAMS ON THE STREETS OF WATERTOWN IN BOSTON. #911BUFF twitpic.com/ckglgi911 Operator
Still in wheelchair, @mayortommenino spoke about the strength of #Boston. @NECN #WatertownShooting #WatertownBoston pic.twitter.com/PjFDrMBR5EJustin Michaels
“I don’t have a single American friend.” Profile of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev: b.globe.com/17LsAZRThe Boston Globe
MT @globecynthia: Smart timeline & locator map of events as they unfolded overnight. bostonglobe.com/Page/Boston/20…The Boston Globe
Gov Patrick says “stay indoor request continues for the time being” as the hunt for Boston Marathon bomber continues unabated.The Boston Globe
State Police warns they will do a controlled explosion of items found in Norfolk Street in Cambridge where the brothers lived.The Boston Globe
Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev became an American citizen on Sept. 11, 2012. (@peteswire, @cbsboston)BuzzFeed News
#RamzanKadyrov, #Chechen Leader, denies #Boston connection through his Instagram. #BostonBombing #BostonMassacre pic.twitter.com/4QHUhTQK97T.L.V
Here’s the translation of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s statement:

“The tragic events took place in Boston. The blast killed people. We have previously expressed their condolences to the people of the city and the people of America. Today, as reported by the media, while trying to arrest a Tsarnaea was killed. It would be logical if he was detained and investigated, found all the circumstances and the degree of his guilt. Apparently, the special services needed by all means to calm the result of society. Any attempt to make the connection between Chechnya and Tsarnaevymi if they are guilty, in vain. They grew up in the United States, their attitudes and beliefs were formed there. It is necessary to seek the roots of evil in America. From terrorism to fight the whole world. We know better than anyone else. We wish recovery to all the victims and share the feelings of sorrow Americans. # # Boston # bombing investigation”
VIDEO: Boston bombing suspects’ Uncle Ruslan: “We’re ashamed” and “they are losers” bzfd.it/15rKKk4BuzzFeed
A high school classmate, Stefanie Gardner, confirms to @buzzfeed’s @rfelliott that this is Tsarnaev’s twitter account buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/…Ben Smith
Classmates recognized the bombing suspects, called the FBI: nytimes.com/2013/04/20/us/…AdamSerwer
I’m in Waterton – this helicopter landed in a shopping mall just a few secs ago #5live #nolan pic.twitter.com/tkxa7rP8zgStephen Nolan
“This has nothing to do with Chechnya….Chechens are peaceful people” – uncle of suspects on MSNBCBenjy Sarlin
Bombing Suspect’s Uncle: ‘It’s Crazy.. I Can’t Believe It’ (VIDEO) livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/bombing-… via @sahilkapurJosh Marshall
Uncle of bombers on MSNBC: “Yes, we’re ashamed. They’re children of my brother, who had little influence on them as much as I know.”Benjy Sarlin
US Muslim Group Condemns Attack, Schedules Press Conference livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/us-musli… via @benjysarlinTPM Livewire
RT @billy_baker: Boston Globe photographers are delivering incredible images right now. bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/…Garance Franke-Ruta
MIT release on slain officer Sean Collier, 26, killed in line of duty. RIP bit.ly/15ruXllMajor Garrett
“I can’t believe I went through 4 years of high school & was friends with someone who carried out a terrorist attack” bit.ly/1788W9bMother Jones
EXCLUSIVE: Wrestling Photo, Former Classmate Reactions to Boston Bombing Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev bit.ly/17waLuNMother Jones
What you should know about Chechnya and the Boston bombing suspects thkpr.gs/Zx3pXyThinkProgress
Update…Recovered —> Car sought in Connecticut in connection to Boston by authorities: ct.gov/despp/cwp/view…Jim Acosta
Clarification: No official confirmation that YouTube user posting extremist videos is same person as Boston suspect bit.ly/117gq8zMother Jones
Classmate: Bombing Suspect Was ‘Class Clown’ shrd.by/SJ6GcrWBZ Boston News
Watch Live Coverage Of WBZ-TV: shrd.by/CA0H70WBZ Boston News
#WANTED: Updated photo of 19 year-old Dzhokhar Tsarnaev released. Suspect considered armed & dangerous. pic.twitter.com/pzps8ovJTbBoston Police Dept.
Authorities say that the 2 Boston bomb suspects are brothers, are legal permanent residents of Chechen origin – @NBCNews, @PeteWilliamsNBCBreaking News
BREAKING NEWS – CONNECTICUT POLICE ASKED TO PUT OUT AN APB FOR HONDA CRV MA TAG #36ES9 POSSIBLE SUSPECT WITH SUICIDE VEST. via – NBC.Anonymous
Car sought in Connecticut in connection to Boston by authorities: ct.gov/despp/cwp/view…Jim Acosta
Wow “@NBCNews: Photo: City on lockdown; an empty Kenmore Square in #Boston, Mass. (via Andrew Golden) pic.twitter.com/FBZrMSqMjy”Ben
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OPINION

‘Hunger Games at NBC News’: New McDaniel Revelations Have ‘Enraged’ Staffers, Report Says

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The backlash from NBC News’ hiring of Ronna McDaniel is not over. New reporting from Puck, CNN, and The Washington Post reveals the considerable efforts from top NBC and MSNBC brass to recruit, hire, and support the former RNC chair who promoted false election claims, was allegedly involved in helping Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and refused to say Joe Biden had been elected fairly.

Staffers at NBC News and MSNBC were outraged at McDaniel’s hiring, but new details about behind-the-scenes efforts reportedly have increased that outrage.

Some critics are either calling for resignations of NBC News and MSNBC  leadership, or questioning how long they can ride out the mess.

“What is Brian Roberts going to do?” CNN‘s Oliver Darcy asks. “The Comcast boss is watching an unceasing five-alarm fire rage at 30 Rock, scarring the reputation of NBC News and threatening to consume multiple parts of the Cesar Conde-run NBC Universal News Group.”

“Conde has lost control of his organization, prompting industry insiders to wonder how he continues to remain in his role as chairman of the NBC News Group. In the words of one veteran media executive I spoke to Wednesday, ‘It’s inconceivable that he should,'” Darcy writes, saying Conde’s actions and those of his top executives have “hosed gasoline” on the scandal.

READ MORE: Lawmaker Slammed for Claiming College Basketball Players Were Actually ‘Illegal Invaders’

That scandal involves these revelations from Puck’s Dylan Byers, who reports, “bringing McDaniel to 30 Rock had been part of a nearly two-month-long effort that was spearheaded by Budoff Brown and her boss, NBC News President Rebecca Blumenstein, with buy-in from Conde and his deputies at both NBC News and MSNBC.”

“Rashida Jones,” he adds, “the president of MSNBC, was very interested in having McDaniel appear as a contributor on her network, as well.”

But this bombshell has drawn a good deal of attention. Noting how Chuck Todd led off the very public pushback against the hiring of McDaniel, Byers reports, “On Sunday, Budoff Brown reached out to McDaniel’s aide and former chief of staff at the R.N.C., Richard Walters, to see if there were any friends or colleagues who could speak up on her behalf.”

“The two sides also discussed having these folks call attention to what they saw as a double standard—after all, this was the same network that was turning Psaki, a former Biden White House Press Secretary, into a Maddow-adjacent prime time star. Walters later assured Budoff Brown that they’d been able to advance conservative pushback on social media against Todd, specifically, and that this might give NBC News some cover, for which Budoff Brown thanked him.”

CNN, pointing to those details, adds, “staffers inside NBC News are enraged at the fact an executive would have engaged in such behavior.”

Former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacobs, who now writes about politics and the media, called for the firing of Jones, Blumenstein, and Budoff Brown.

Other critics are expressing concerns on multiple fronts.

READ MORE: Ronna McDaniel Is Just a ‘Normal’ Person Who ‘Never Denied the Election’ Says Hugh Hewitt

“It’s like the hunger games at @NBCNews. Every day new, horrible stories of journalism & corporate malpractice. Every single one of these managers must go,” observed Jennifer Schulze, a media critic who was a Chicago Sun-Times executive producer, WGN news director, and adjunct college professor of journalism.

She also highlights a Washington Post report that ropes NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt into the mess.

“Every @NBCNews exec who thought hiring a reputed liar & phony elector co-[conspirator] needs to resign or be fired,” Schulze says.

“The @NBCNews managers who recruited & signed an election denier should be out the door, too,” she adds. “Not only was it downright offensive to hire Ronna, it was journalism AND corporate malpractice.”

Pointing to his newsletter, former Obama senior advisor Dan Pfeiffer writes, “NBC’s ill-fated decision to hire Ronna McDaniel is a story of a media outlet unwilling to accept the ways Trump changed politics, but it’s also one of the best arguments for Dems need to build our media ecosystem ASAP.”

READ MORE: Comer Refuses to Investigate Trump Family Member Over ‘Influence Peddling’ Allegation

He calls McDaniel’s hiring “evidence” the media has “yet to accept the reality that this is not a normal election between a Republican and a Democrat.” And adds, “An [industry] that prizes objectivity above all else, is incapable of accurately covering an election where one candidate is a normal politician and the other is an insurrectionist. Many in the media would rather stumble into autocracy than take a side.”

Veteran journalist and Sirius XM host Michelangelo Signorile observes, “We couldn’t have asked for a better situation to shine a bright light on the corruption of the corporate media—and its impulse to legitimize MAGA extremism and lawbreakers for profit—than NBC’s hiring former RNC chair, election denier, and Trump enabler Ronna McDaniel.”

And he warns, “The forces that made the coup-plotting former RNC chair a paid contributor are still shaping news and information about this pivotal election.”

 

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News

Lawmaker Slammed for Claiming College Basketball Players Were Actually ‘Illegal Invaders’

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Michigan MAGA Republican state Rep. Matt Maddock is under fire after claiming three buses were “loaded up with illegal invaders.” The buses, according to multiple reports, were actually loaded with the Gonzaga University basketball team arriving for March Madness.

“Happening right now. Three busses just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro. Anyone have any idea where they’re headed with their police escort?” Rep. Maddock wrote on social media Wednesday evening, tagging far-right former U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands under Donald Trump and is now the state’s Republican Party chair.

Informed of his error on social media, Rep. Maddock doubled down, and attacked.

READ MORE: Ronna McDaniel Is Just a ‘Normal’ Person Who ‘Never Denied the Election’ Says Hugh Hewitt

“Probably teams for the NCAA Mens Sweet 16 playing at LCA on Friday and Sunday,” a user on X wrote.

“Sure kommie. Good talking point,” Maddock quickly shot back.

ABC affiliate WXYZ executive producer Maxwell White, responding to the Maddock’s original post wrote: “Just to be clear, this was the Gonzaga basketball team. Photos show Gonzaga getting on an Allegiant plane to Detroit for the Sweet 16, and Flight Radar shows a plane from GEG to DTW landed at 7:25 p.m., around the time this photo was posted.”

“This is a wild tweet,” White added, before adding more evidence.

Hoekstra, who was accused of using racism and xenophobia to win his campaign for a U.S. Senate seat (he lost), did not respond directly to Maddock but did repost the apparently false claim.

Michigan State Senate Democratic Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow denounced Maddock’s claim as “dangerous.”

Maddock’s remark also made the national stage when U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell responded.

READ MORE: Trump Campaign Says It Will Deploy ‘Soldiers’ to Polling Places

“Hey Einstein,” the California Democrat wrote, “your state is hosting the Sweet 16. Could it be a team bus? If it is, will you resign for your spectacular stupidity?”

In 2021 The Washington Post reported, “Michigan state Rep. Matt Maddock and his wife, Michigan Republican Party co-chair Meshawn Maddock, have repeatedly been called out by fact-checking journalists for promoting baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and falsely suggesting that covid-19 is comparable to the flu.”

See the social media posts above 0r at this link.

 

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OPINION

Ronna McDaniel Is Just a ‘Normal’ Person Who ‘Never Denied the Election’ Says Hugh Hewitt

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Right-wing talk radio show host Hugh Hewitt is facing backlash after declaring former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, who was ousted after her hiring cost NBC News a tumultuous five days, a “normal” person who has “never denied the election.”

Last summer, The Washington Post‘s Philip Bump reported McDaniel “is still elevating 2020 election skepticism,” and “won’t say the election was fair.”

“I don’t think he won it fair. I don’t. I’m not going to say that,” McDaniel had said to CNN.

“CNN teased an upcoming interview between host Chris Wallace and Ronna McDaniel,” Bump wrote. “In the clip, Wallace asks McDaniel when she stopped being an ‘election denier’ — that is, someone who espouses skepticism about the validity of the election results. And, surprise! McDaniel never stopped.”

Bump also explained the danger in election denialism: “McDaniel won’t say Biden was legitimately elected because the base doesn’t want to hear it — but the base doesn’t want to hear it in part because leaders such as McDaniel won’t simply admit without qualifications that Biden won.”

READ MORE: Comer Refuses to Investigate Trump Family Member Over ‘Influence Peddling’ Allegation

“Establishing a system in which any loss can easily be framed as illegitimate means establishing a system in which no loss is accepted as valid,” Bump continued. “It means institutionalizing the idea that elections are inaccurate gauges of public opinion and, therefore, that the winners of those elections have no mandate to serve.”

On Wednesday Hewitt, a Washington Post columnist and former Reagan White House aide, said on Fox News that McDaniel “is a fine Republican. She is not an election denier. She has never denied the election.”

Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh responded to that clip.

Bullshit Hugh. With Trump, she pressured MI canvassers to not certify the results; with Trump, she pressured other state attorney’s to sue & invalidate results in MI, PA, & WI; she worked with Trump on the fake electors scheme; she lied about charges of voter fraud well after those charges had been debunked. No major party chair in American history has done more to dispute a legit election. Shame on you,” Walsh wrote.

Media Matters’ Eric Kleefeld, also responding to that clip: “Somebody who helped coordinate fake electors and passed a resolution calling Jan. 6 ‘legitimate political discourse’ is not normal, and we must at all steps refuse to treat them as such.”

READ MORE: Greene Says She Won’t Take Responsibility if Johnson Loses Speaker’s Gavel Before Election

Hewitt had also told Fox News, “I don’t know who is going to keep MSNBC informed of what normal people think, because Ronna McDaniel is about as normal as they come. She’s a Michigan mom, she’s been in the job seven years. She represents the Republican Party.”

McDaniel, it could be said, does not represent the Republican Party, not the MAGA America First Republican Party of today, neither literally nor figuratively. Donald Trump engineered her ouster and installed his handpicked replacements, including his daughter-in-law and Michael Whatley, a right-wing attorney who was part of the Bush recount team during the contested 2000 presidential election.

The Atlantic’s Norman Ornstein, an emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), blasted Hewitt, calling him “an utter disgrace,” while adding, “shame on those like the Washington Post who showcase him.”

Adam Cohen, vice chair of Lawyers for Good Government, pointedly responded to Hewitt: “Hate to tell you this, but normal people don’t try to foment a coup, or deny the truth about election results Like Ronna McDaniel did.”

Watch the videos above or at this link.

READ MORE: Trump Campaign Says It Will Deploy ‘Soldiers’ to Polling Places

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