Craigslist CEO slams CNN reporter Amber Lyon

The CEO of the online classified site Craigslist blasted an interview request from the CNN reporter who accused the site of profiting from the sex trade.

Craigslist chief executive Jim Buckmaster posted a public response to CNN reporter Amber Lyon's request for an interview with the company on Monday, noting the request came 90 days after Lyon "ambushed" Craigslist founder Craig Newmark at an event in Washington and accused him of profiting off the exploitation of women and children in the site's "adult services" section.

"Now that CNN has aired your highly misleading piece dozens of times, mischaracterizing your stunt as a serious interview on this subject, and you’ve updated your 'bio' to showcase this rare jewel of investigative journalism, you’re ready to try actually interviewing the company itself on this subject," Buckmaster writes.

Newmark serves as the company's chief customer service representative and chairman of the board, but has delegated much of the management of the company to Buckmaster and others. Buckmaster accused Lyon of going after Newmark in order to sensationalize her report and compared her to a tabloid reporter.

"You knew Craig was not in management or a company spokesperson, but setting CNN’s ethical code aside, you sidestepped company channels in favor of ambushing our semi-retired founder, complete with a misleading 'set up' for your surprise questions," Buckmaster wrote. "Your stunt has veteran news pros we know recoiling in journalistic horror, some of them chalking it up to a decline in CNN’s standards, which is unfortunate."

"Seeing how you’ve pinned your career hopes on butchering this story, I’ll have to pass," Buckmaster concludes, before admitting the company would consider sitting down to speak with CNN host Anderson Cooper.