Conservative commentator Meghan McCain called for CNN host Kaitlan Collins to have her White House press credentials revoked following a heated exchange on Wednesday between Collins, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
The incident occurred during an official afternoon press briefing at the White House, where Gabbard faced questions about her recent decision to declassify intelligence reports.
The documents reportedly indicate that former President Barack Obama and members of his administration manipulated intelligence data to falsely suggest that former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia ahead of the 2016 election.
Kaitlan Collins, a CNN prime-time anchor and current White House correspondent, pressed Gabbard during the briefing, asking, “What would you say to people who believe that you’re only releasing these documents now to improve your standing with the president after he said that your intelligence assessments were wrong?”
Gabbard responded, defending her decision and challenging the premise of the question.
“The Senate Intelligence Committee has a very different function than the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,” she said.
“The evidence and the intelligence that has been declassified and released is irrefutable.”
Leavitt, standing beside Gabbard during the exchange, intervened to address