Colbert Gives Cooper Awkward Grilling About CNN Paying Ex-Trump Staffer (VIDEO)

Things took an awkward turn during Stephen Colbert’s Wednesday night show when the host confronted CNN anchor Anderson Cooper about his network employing Corey Lewandowski, a former top Donald Trump aide who is still on the campaign’s payroll.

While speaking about the guests CNN has on the air, Colbert asked Cooper if Lewandowski is still being paid by Trump while working as a CNN political commentator.

Cooper hedged, saying, “I believe – I read he gets a severance, continuing severance from the Trump campaign.”

“So ya’ll are paying him, and Trump is paying him, but he’s on your show doing analysis for a man he still gets cash from?” Colbert pressed on.

“Pretty much,” Cooper answered, to awkward laughs from the “Late Show” audience. “Yeah, I guess that’s one way to look at it. I mean, yes.”

“And you still respect his opinion?” Colbert asked.

The CNN host responded he has all kinds of guests on his show, including surrogates who are paid by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Lewandowski was brought on board at CNN just days after he was axed from the Trump campaign in June. It was later reported that Lewandowski was still paid his monthly $20,000 salary by the campaign in July, and the Washington Post has reported Trump still calls on his former adviser for advice.

Watch a clip of the interview via the Late Show with Stephen Colbert:

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Notable Replies

  1. Thank you, Stephen!! What a shame our comedians are better at informing the general public about our politics than most of our “news” media.

  2. Avatar for cmj cmj says:

    Anderson, Katrina Pierson isn’t a “surrogate,” she’s his SPOKESPERSON. It’s not even the same thing. Stop.giving.these.people.a.pass.

  3. Anderson has gone from prematurely grey to prematurely old.
    He looks terrible, IMO.

  4. See the DIFFERENCE is surrogates come on and we know they are gonna bloviate for their candidates. Take it or leave it. CNN HIRED this buffoon and gave him legitimacy…or at least tried to. It made you all look like fools.

  5. New rule: IOKIYACNN

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