CNN and MSNBC have blanketed their network coverage with the mugshots of former President Donald Trump’s alleged collaborators on Wednesday and Thursday.
During a 24-hour span starting from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the outlets showed images of the mugshots a total of 188 times covering 83 minutes of airtime, according to an analysis of the networks by the Media Research Center (MRC).
MSNBC featured a mugshot of a least one of the alleged accomplices 122 times for nearly an hour of airtime. CNN featured a photo 66 times for just under 30 minutes of airtime over the course of the day.
MSNBC’s “The Beat with Ari Melber” featured a mugshot of the accused more than any other show. Melber’s show kept an image of at least one of the co-defendants up for over half his program, not counting commercial breaks, according to MRC.
The mugshots stem from charges brought by Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis. Willis charged Trump and 18 co-defendants on August 15 in a sweeping racketeering case, alleging that the group worked together in a way similar to an organized cabal to attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Other defendants involved in the indictment include former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis, and attorney John Eastman.
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MRC released the metric as journalists such as CNN’s Jake Tapper have denied accusations that the media is “reveling” in the court case.
“I know facts are a tough concept for the $787.5M defamation settlement channel, but in this piece CNN journalists & commentators, including conservatives, stating *facts* about Trump’s legal issues are falsely described as reveling in them. Wildly, characteristically dishonest,” Tapper said last week in a social media post responding to a segment from Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.
I know facts are a tough concept for the $787.5M defamation settlement channel, but in this piece CNN journalists & commentators, including conservatives, stating *facts* about Trump's legal issues are falsely described as reveling in them. Wildly, characteristically dishonest. https://t.co/Ob2BxHqREo
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 17, 2023