On Monday, MSNBC aired a deceptively edited video on “Bashir Live” of testimony given by the father of a Sandy Hook victim. On Tuesday, several outlets, including Twitchy and TheBlaze called out MSNBC for the obvious discrepancy in the video. And on Wednesday, MSNBC finally addressed the controversy — but issued no apology or correction.
“On Monday on our program, we aired a portion of a hearing where we heard from Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School,” fill-in host and MSNBC contributor Ari Melber said. “We have received a number of comments over the past two days, so we are going to play the relevant portion of that testimony in full.”
After playing the unedited video of Heslin’s testimony, Martin Bashir’s fill-in host did not issue a correction or apology.
“Martin [Bashir] and many others who saw Mr. Heslin’s testimony have called that interruption ‘heckling,’ some disagree. He wanted you to hear it in full so you can draw your own conclusion,” Melber added.
Bashir was out sick on Wednesday. According to previous reports, he has been dealing with some health issues related to a brain tumor. We certainly hope he is in good health.
In the video aired on show Monday, an audience member is heard shouting, “the Second Amendment shall not be infringed” as Neil Heslin, the father of victim Jesse Lewis, advocates for a ban on semi-automatic rifles. Bashir made it appear as if the father was “heckled” by pro-gun advocates for no reason.
