On Easter Sunday, MSNBC decided to ambush special counsel Robert Mueller as he attended services across from the White House at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
“We knew that he was going to be, he’s been there. He’s been there in the past so we waited for him,” MSNBC reporter Mike Viqueira said on air. “Easter services, tried to be as respectful as possible. He came out the side door of the church. I did have a couple of prepared questions to ask him.”
Then MSNBC ran the tape.
“Sir, could I ask you a couple of questions? Will you testify before Congress, sir?” Viqueira asks Mueller.
“No comment,” Mueller answers.
“Are you sure about that, sir?” Viqueira says.
“No comment,” Mueller repeats.
“If he were anybody but the president, would Mr. Trump be indicted, sir?” Viqueira says, nearly shoving the microphone into Mueller’s face. “Sir, why didn’t you make a recommendation to Congress one way or the other, sir? Did the attorney general accurately characterize your positions on conspiracy and obstruction, sir?”
Mueller then climbs into his car and nearly closes the door on Viqueira and his mic.
The shot cuts back to Viqueira outside the White House. ” I think it’s accurate to characterize director Mueller as being tight-lipped to my questions,” Viqueira says, smiling. MSNBC host Joy Reid can be heard laughing at the reporter’s Noel Coward-like wit.
Condemnation for the episode of “ambush journalism” was universal, but actress Patricia Heaton posted a perfect tweet on Twitter.
Hello @MSNBC,” the “Everybody Loves Raymond” actress wrote. “Today is Easter Sunday, the holiest day of the Christian calendar. Some of the faithful were murdered today while they worshiped. But you ambush Robert Mueller outside of his church and chuckle about it afterward. This is loathesome. Shame on you.”
Hello @MSNBC. Today is Easter Sunday, the holiest day of the Christian calendar. Some of the faithful were murdered today while they worshiped. But you ambush Robert Mueller outside of his church and chuckle about it afterward. This is loathesome. Shame on you. https://t.co/30BAoivnVp
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) April 21, 2019
Heaton wrote the tweet after news reports that more than 200 people died in a spate of church bombings in Sri Lanka as Christians attended Easter services.
Twitters followed suit.
MSNBC is the lowest of the low in reporting. I expect nothing less. Had this been a person of a different faith other then Christianity there would be riots in the streets
— Tom G. (@jailguard1991) April 22, 2019
That’s appalling, but sadly not surprising of them. Great CALLOUT of their poor character judgement in this play for a story at all costs.
— Jules (@GRITSproud) April 22, 2019
So. Wrong. This is what gives legitimate journalists a bad rep. It's Easter and he's at church. And the banner: 'Mueller Spotted…'. He's not an escaped zoo animal. I know it's a holiday and interns may be ruining things but really @MSNBC ? https://t.co/l9ssgxNZ5x
— Julie Wilcox WX (@JulieWilcoxWX) April 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/GreatRock213/status/1120268053852446720
.@MSNBC just proved itself to be the “human troll network” and is also doubling down apparently proud of this grotesque display of human indecency after a workship service on a spiritual holiday. #selfown https://t.co/TqiTWaq8Bn
— M. Zuhdi Jasser زهدي جاسر (@DrZuhdiJasser) April 21, 2019
I’m far from a Mueller fan, but this harassment outside Easter service is outrageous. @MSNBC often typifies the very worst of the dismal state of “journalism” in America today. Fourth Estate, please do better! https://t.co/0BmvJBn12y
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) April 21, 2019
Ladies and gentlemen, our national news media https://t.co/Lq9e27bUaC
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 21, 2019
Our national news media, indeed.
