Fox News Host: Trump ‘Mentioned Pardoning’ Paul Manafort
CONTRARY NARRATIVES
Ainsley Earhardt first tells Sean Hannity the president said he “would consider” a pardon but later claims he gave no direct answer.
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Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt, who interviewed President Donald Trump earlier Wednesday, has walked back her statement that the president “mentioned pardoning” his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. After initially telling Sean Hannity that Trump said he “would consider” issuing a pardon, Earhardt tweeted late Wednesday that the president “didn’t say yes, didn’t say no” when asked about pardoning Manafort. “I think he feels bad for Manafort,” Earhardt told Hannity. “They were friends, he didn’t work for him for very long. He worked for him for basically a hundred days.” The remarks come after White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters during Wednesday’s press briefing that Trump “hadn’t been thinking about” a pardon for Manafort. The president tweeted Wednesday morning that he felt “very badly” for Manafort. “‘Justice’ took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to ‘break’ - make up stories in order to get a ‘deal.’ Such respect for a brave man!” the president wrote.
Thanks @seanhannity for promoting exclusive interview w/ @POTUS. Getting lots of inquires about what he said about pardoning Manafort (didn't say yes, didn't say no). Gives detailed answer on Sessions, Rosenstein & frustration w/ DOJ. Will air every word he said tomorrow, 6-9 AM.
