Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Sandra Bland’s Cigarette A Weapon? [Video]

Fox News‘ Elisabeth Hasselbeck has created controversy by seemingly suggesting that Sandra Bland’s cigarette could have been used as a weapon during the traffic stop which preceded her death. While Hasselbeck denies ever calling a cigarette a weapon, some claim the Fox News host took the line of questioning to the edge of absurdity.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Sandra Bland’s funeral was held in Illinois and some are calling for a federal investigation into the case. The incident even has Bernie Sanders claiming that “we must reform our criminal justice system.”

Sandra Bland’s cigarette came up during a Fox & Friends segment where Elisabeth Hasselbeck was speaking to former New York City Police Department Officer John Rafferty about the dashcam video of the police traffic stop. The video shows State Trooper Brian Encinia asking Bland to put out her cigarette and get out of the vehicle.

“It appears, looking at this, because she didn’t put out the cigarette, next thing he knows, he’s asking the person to step out of the vehicle,” Rafferty said. “You can’t take it personal. It’s the job.”

In response, Hasselbeck seemingly suggested a cigarette could be used to provoke or attack a police officer.

“I mean, there are times, I’m sure, someone has, in the history of this land, used a cigarette against a police officer,” said Hasselbeck. “Maybe chucked it at him; pushed it at him. If he indeed felt it could be a potential threat, was that the wise thing to do on his part?”

When Rafferty replied in the affirmative, Hasselbeck asked, “If [Officer Encinia] indeed felt it could be a potential threat, was that the wise thing to do?”

“I wouldn’t want somebody stepping out with a cigarette,” Rafferty replied. “I’ve had somebody try to put a cigarette out on me. It happens. I guarantee, you speak to many cops out there. But the way you say it, unfortunately you’re locked into it. Because now, it’s being recorded. Unfortunately, these officers have to remember that.”

Writers for Salon disagreed with Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s assessment of the situation, claiming that Sandra Bland’s cigarette case is just the same as any another common object.

“Just because I could toss a cup of lukewarm green tea at any police officer who walks into my office doesn’t mean that, should a police officer actually enter my office, he or she should feel immediately threatened by my Bigelow. There’s no logic to that logic — it’s effectively a license to live in perpetual fear of everyday objects, and Hasselback wants to grant it to law enforcement.”

When reports came out claiming that Elisabeth Hasselbeck said Sandra Bland’s cigarette was a weapon, the Fox News host went to Twitter to clarify her earlier comments.

I NEVER suggested Sandra Bland could have used a cigarette as a weapon. I asked whether it was wise to ask her to put it out. #StopTheLies

— elisabeth hasselbeck (@ehasselbeck) July 28, 2015

What do you think?

[Image via Shop Clues]