CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Who Made Anti-Gay Slurs, Makes False Claim About Justice Clarence Thomas
CNN White House reporter Kaitlan Collins — who’s under fire for having tweeted homophobic slurs — falsely claimed that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had been accused of sexual assault during his confirmation.
Collins made the misstatement while covering the ceremonial swearing-in of new Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh on October 8.
Kaitlan said (video below): “Clarence Thomas, who — of course, during his confirmation hearings was also accused of sexual assault — was there clapping as well.”
The Boston Herald‘s Tom Shattuck called out Collins’ mistake on Twitter, but neither CNN nor Collins have issued a correction over her factual error.
“Incredible,” Shattuck tweeted. “Kaitlin Collins of CNN reports that Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual assault. No producer catches it, nor any colleagues. No correction Brian Stelter? I’m not even suggesting maliciousness but where is everyone?”
Thomas Was Not Accused Of Sexual Assault During Confirmation
Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual harassment — not sexual assault — in 1991 by Anita Hill, one of his former subordinates at the U.S. Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Despite the allegations, Thomas was eventually confirmed to the Supreme Court, as Fox News reported.
There is a huge difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault, so people on Twitter were stunned that CNN and Kaitlan Collins let the fake news stand uncorrected.
One viewer wrote, “Kaitlan Collins reported that Clarence Thomas was accused of ‘sexual assault.’ It was sexual harassment, Kaitlin. I hope you and CNN aren’t sued for slander. I know it’s exciting for you to get airtime. But, at least be accurate.”
Incredible. Kaitlin Collins of @CNN reports that Clarence Thomas was accused of sexual assault. No producer catches it, nor any colleagues. No correction. @brianstelter ? I’m not even suggesting maliciousness but where is everyone? pic.twitter.com/yT8QKtdr0Z
— Tom Shattuck (@tomshattuck) October 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1049713524837093376
The previous day, Collins was blasted after incendiary tweets from 2011 were unearthed where Kaitlan repeatedly used the anti-gay slur “f*g,” and complained that she might end up with a lesbian roommate.
Conservatives noted that Kaitlan and CNN — which routinely hammer Republican politicians and public figures over decades-old tweets, comments, and high school yearbook postings — tried to brush Collins’ anti-gay slurs under the rug.
CNN White House reporter Kaitlan Collins is forced to apologize after her old homophobic tweets referring to people as 'f*gs' resurface https://t.co/sVr6ROmZ8a
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) October 8, 2018
Amid heavy backlash, Collins apologized for her anti-gay posts, chalking it up to “immaturity.”
Kaitlan tweeted: “When I was in college, I used ignorant language in a few tweets to my friends. It was immature but it doesn’t represent the way I feel at all. I regret it and apologize.”
Meanwhile, Collins has not commented on an article she wrote in 2014 — where she fat-shamed Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski and mocked her physical stature and appearance.
CNN hired @KaitlanCollins to be their White House "reporter" knowing that she wrote degrading articles about women's appearances.
I don't want to hear another word from CNN about Trump's comments when they hire someone that wrote this:https://t.co/2BMJqWc48r
cc: @CNNPR pic.twitter.com/tVPS4hg7Hs
— Mindy Robinson ?? (@iheartmindy) October 8, 2018
CNN’s ratings have lagged far behind rival cable network Fox News for the past 22 years.
Last week, CNN was excoriated by veteran journalist Ted Koppel for its obsessive anti-Trump coverage, as the Inquisitr reported.
Ted Koppel to CNN: ‘You’d Be Lost Without Donald Trump!’
Koppel — a former ABC News anchor and winner of 25 Emmy Awards — said that CNN loves to attack President Donald Trump around the clock because it desperately needs him to boost its sagging ratings.
“You can’t do without Donald Trump,” Koppel, a liberal, told CNN pundit Brian Stelter. “You would be lost without Donald Trump! CNN’s ratings would be in the toilet without Donald Trump.”
Ted Koppel Rips CNN, MSNBC: 'CNN's Ratings Would Be In The Toilet Without Donald Trump!'. 'You would be lost without Donald Trump,' Koppel told CNN's Brian Stelter. #DonaldTrump #News https://t.co/fqqtKf5wlH
— The Inquisitr (@theinquisitr) October 4, 2018