Oxon Hill, Md. — Ken Cuccinelli, a conservative CNN commentator and former Virginia attorney general, defended himself this week from recent accusations that he’s sexist and attacks women on TV.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, Cuccinelli denied that his sometimes combative on-air exchanges with women at CNN are gender related, and he said the network has never addressed the issue with him.
“I’m not having a hard time with women on CNN,” he said Thursday. “I reject it. I’m anti-rude.”
A Hollywood Reporter article published this month said Cuccinelli is “making headlines for being dismissive toward his female colleagues while on air.”
The article cited a clash between Cuccinelli and anti-Trump Republican Ana Navarro, also a CNN commentator, on Feb. 7, during which Navarro interrupted him. Cuccinelli responded by making a chatter motion with his hand and saying, “I’m sick and tired of listening to your shrill voice in my ears.”
Cuccinelli said he was responding to what Navarro was saying, and not to her gender. “Have you ever watched her on CNN? Yeah, she’s very difficult to be on a panel with.”
