CNN is facing blowback from news outlets, pundits and politicians, as well as some its own employees, for hiring a former Republican operative as its Washington bureau political editor.
The criticism comes after a Tuesday report that Sarah Isgur Flores, who served as spokeswoman to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsO'Rourke on impeachment: 2020 vote may be best way to 'resolve' Trump House Judiciary Dem, Republican clash over details of Whitaker testimony DeVos moves to allow religious groups to provide federally funded services to private schools MORE, had been hired by the news network. She also was a former political operative for Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyThe 25 Republicans who defied Trump on emergency declaration Overnight Defense: Senate rejects border emergency in rebuke to Trump | Acting Pentagon chief grilled on wall funding | Warren confronts chief over war fund budget 12 Republican senators defy Trump on emergency declaration MORE (R-Utah), Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzO'Rourke faces pressure from left on 'Medicare for all' O'Rourke not planning, but not ruling out big fundraisers O'Rourke: Being a white male not a disadvantage in 2020 Dem field MORE (R-Texas) and Carly Fiorina.
CNN confirmed the hire to Politico, but has released no official announcement with details around its decision.
The Hill has reached out to CNN for comment.
The headlines around the move were scathing, with many asking why the network would hire a political operative.
"CNN hires GOP operative with no journalism experience to coordinate its 2020 coverage," reads one Vox headline.
"CNN Just Set the New Standard for Corporate Media's Chickensh*t Catering to Republicans," says another in Esquire.
"WTF?!?! CNN Staffers ‘Demoralized’ by Hiring of GOP Operative Sarah Isgur to Edit 2020 Coverage," according to a Daily Beast report.
Political figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezBeto could give Biden and Bernie a run for their money Left-wing Dems in minority with new approach to spending Lawmakers contemplate a tough political sell: Raising their pay MORE (D-N.Y.), also weighed in on the hire.
"Sorry, didn’t get the latest memo after 1,000 experienced and qualified journalists of all stripes were let go w/o warning a few weeks ago and still looking for work: are we still pretending that hires like these are evidence of a meritocracy?" she asked rhetorically.
Sorry, didn’t get the latest memo after 1,000 experienced + qualified journalists of all stripes were let go w/o warning a few weeks ago and still looking for work: are we still pretending that hires like these are evidence of a meritocracy? https://t.co/Qb9JNgcdT2
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 20, 2019
Many media members also pointed out Flores's lack of journalism experience.
WHAT? Ex-Jeff Sessions spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores is joining CNN as a political editor. https://t.co/7WXuOnbMce
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) February 19, 2019
But back to Sarah Isgur Flores and CNN for a second: Remember that she *pledged loyalty to Trump* in order to get her last job. But hey, sure, have her coordinate your 2020 coverage, CNN. Sure that'll be fair and not full of empty podiums/free Trump ads. https://t.co/c8mhZzVpSZ
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) February 19, 2019
Throwback to when Sarah Isgur Flores heckled Jeff Zucker about CNN's Trump coverage in 2016!https://t.co/ZrT2AQSREk pic.twitter.com/9mxP64WYG9
— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) February 19, 2019
From Carly to Sessions to CNN: Sarah Isgur Flores https://t.co/jxeCuc4iIS
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) February 19, 2019
How many thousands of qualified journalists would have to turn down this job before CNN would make this mistake? https://t.co/8wU4bgkhDG
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) February 20, 2019
.@CNN your political director called you the Clinton News Network pic.twitter.com/CZdejic3fF
— Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) February 19, 2019
CNN's new political editor has worked for every Republican but hasn't done any journalism pic.twitter.com/2q1oAgj7dB
— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) February 19, 2019
CNN faced criticism earlier this year after hiring John Kasich, with some questioning why the network gave the former Republican governor of Ohio a national platform to ostensibly to push an eventual primary challenge to President Trump
Donald John TrumpJoint Chiefs chairman denies report that US is planning to keep 1K troops in Syria Kansas Department of Transportation calls Trump 'delusional communist' on Twitter Trump has privately voiced skepticism about driverless cars: report MORE.
Updated at 9:57 a.m.
