The new inspector general report released yesterday was looking into the episode that transpired last year involving U.S Park Police clearing out protestors from the area in and around St. John’s Episcopal Church, and the ensuing photo op that President Trump conducted in front of the church that had been the target of a firebomb attack the prior evening. This report completely exposes the media in their coverage from that time, showing just how disinterested they are in getting the facts and instead amplifying a narrative.
For days — weeks, even — this episode was used as a cudgel against the President. Stern-faced anchors intoned condemnation over this egregious act, and they noted the episode frequently as a sign of the President’s heartless rule over the country. Lost in their seriousness was the attack on the church itself, downplayed by many in the media, as its basement was set ablaze by protestors and to this point — one year later — still not fully repaired. For nearly a year, the press stood with this version of events, as it was cemented as truth.
It was all completely fake.
The finding of the report was that the USPP was not acting in concert with the White House, they were clearing the protestors in order to erect protective barriers around the targeted building and monuments in the area. Teargas was not used on the crowd; they were informed to be dispersed with speakers, and then non-caustic smoke grenades were employed, as they failed to remove themselves. The “peaceful“ aspect was also shown to be wrong, as the report details how police were assaulted with various projectiles.
It is significant that this is going completely ignored by CNN’s resident media analyst. Stelter is the voice on the front lines perpetually braying about how dangerous and insidious the lies dispensed at Fox are for the nation, yet repeatedly, CNN has been shown guilty of the very type of broadcast that raises his ire. Brian’s network was in a collective circle jerk over this event in Lafayette Park.
Most hysterical and histrionic over this was, unsurprisingly, Jim Acosta. At the White House, he asked the Press Secretary, “If the White House, President, and his team had to do it all over again, would you have gassed and pummeled protestors to clear the park so the President could have a photo-op?” Also of note is the CNN fact-checker, Daniel Dale. He responded to an earlier report detailing the very things found in the IG findings, yet he declared this to be a false claim.
https://redstate.com/bradslager/2021/06/10/the-scrambling-and-excuse-making-as-the-ig-report-fully-exposes-cnn-n394546