Lanny Davis conceded Sunday that he simply sought to have journalists investigate whether President Trump had advance knowledge of the infamous Trump Tower meeting when CNN misinterpreted his request for a confirmation.
Davis, in an interview on Fox News’ “MediaBuzz,” emphasized that he doesn’t blame CNN for the miscommunication, repeatedly asserting that “in my mind” he wasn’t giving them the wrong impression.
“I was never sure in my confirmation. I was uncertain. In fact I expressed my uncertainty, but not clear enough. So I can understand they interpreted what I said as a confirmation and I have not blamed CNN, I blamed myself for not being more clear,” he said. “That In my mind I did not know the details about that meeting and I should not have encouraged any reporter. The lesson I learned: If I’m not certain, even on background, I should not be asking reporters to do investigative work when I’m not sure.”
The report in question, published in late July, cites unnamed sources saying Davis’ client, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, was ready to tell special counsel Robert Mueller that Donald Trump Jr. notified his father of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with a Russian lawyer, predicated with a promise of dirt on Hillary Clinton, before it took place.
Davis has since come out to say he was a source for that story and apologized for not being more clear.
In recent days, that report has come under fire by the Trumps, their allies, and critics in the media, and they have specifically harped on the fact that it explicitly says Davis declined to comment. Amid the backlash, CNN has stood by its reporting. The report was authored by veteran journalist Carl Bernstein, CNN’s chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto, and CNN researcher and producer Marshall Cohen.
At the same time “MediaBuzz” aired on Fox News, on CNN, “Reliable Sources” guest host John Avlon speculated about why Davis “backtracked” on his claims and emphasized that he was only one of the sources in the story.
“Why did he backtrack? It could be to save his client from a perjury trap given previous statements made to Congress,” Avlon said.
