After being released from prison, former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) made an appearance on CNN. Kaitlan Collins is saying don’t read too much into that.
Collins was a guest on Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know, a podcast from the comedian, and was asked about Santos’ release from prison and his CNN appearance with Dana Bash.
Minhaj questioned why Santos was released before asking, “And when will CNN be hiring him as an analyst?”
“I don’t think we’re gonna hire him as an analyst,” Collins replied.
When Minhaj pushed back by saying that Santons was recently seen on the network, Collins responded by saying, “It’s our job to have people on.”
After Minhaj said the Santos and CNN were “in negotiations, and that’s ok,” Collins put a stop to the conversation.
“You’re saying this jokingly, (but) I just want to make clear for everyone that that’s not true,” Collins said. “I’m not in charge of hiring — in any way — of our contributors, but I feel really extremely confident that we are not hiring George Santos as a contributor at CNN.”
Minhaj countered by saying, “More absurd things have happened.”
President Donald Trump commuted Santos’ sentence last month, mere months into his seven-year sentence for wire fraud and identity theft. He was also recused from paying the more than $400,000 in restitution earmarked for his victims.
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