The indictment of Paul Manafort Monday was the most significant development in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's election interference. And some Fox News viewers may not even know about it.
The right-wing news network has bent over backwards Monday morning to avoid covering Manafort's perp walk into the FBI field office.
Paul Manafort just agreed to turn himself in to the FBI. What should we report on?
CNN: Manafort
MSNBC: Manafort
Fox News: Hamburger emoji pic.twitter.com/Wjsvkb2coW— Roberto Ferdman (@robferdman) October 30, 2017
The charges against Manafort and former business associate Rick Gates involve 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to launder money. They became the first two Trump associates charged in Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Fox, meanwhile, has been focusing mostly on tax returns and Halloween candy, Monday morning.
Fox News right now. Tremendous. pic.twitter.com/AxKUFcBiLE
— Jason Abbruzzese (@JasonAbbruzzese) October 30, 2017
How the Manafort news is playing on Fox right now pic.twitter.com/vSYsVQ3oED — Jonathan Cohn (@CitizenCohn) October 30, 2017
For the past week, Fox News and the Trump campaign have tried to distract from Mueller's investigation by pushing a narrative that implicates Hillary Clinton and the DNC as the real conspirators during the 2016 election. Sean Hannity has insisted that it was actually the Clintons, and even the Obama administration, who had a shady dealings with Russia.
Can President Clinton recover? https://t.co/acgjvOERzn — Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) October 30, 2017
complicit https://t.co/qt9Z5rnTKm
— darth:™ (@darth) October 30, 2017
As the GOP ramps up efforts to pass tax reform, Fox News appears determined to carve out space for Republicans to operate. The right-wing network has run interference for Trump, not just to protect his presidency, but also to shield efforts to cut taxes.
On Fox & Friends right now......
1. Halloween Candy
2. Economist Questions American's Patriotism pic.twitter.com/h8pZLMyQ4E— Yashar Ali (@yashar) October 30, 2017
Fox's campaign to distract from Mueller became a parody Monday, as network hosts were discussing trivial topics such as cheeseburger emojis, as opposed to the arrest of an influential campaign staffer for Trump.
Fox & Friends is on a commercial break right now, but here is what they were discussing a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/gqpgtwx7XH — Marina Fang (@marinafang) October 30, 2017
sorry twitter has yet to implement the mercy rule https://t.co/iYhoJb8SyW — Brandt (@UrbanAchievr) October 30, 2017
Before the 9:00 a.m. news show started on Fox, the network somehow avoided the Manafort news all together.
Still checking in on Fox News every so often. pic.twitter.com/9TqRS2ajVp
— Elizabeth Picciuto (@epicciuto) October 30, 2017
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