Was Sam Nunberg drunk during his cable-news confessionals? He says no.

Sam Nunberg says he wasn't drunk
(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/CNN)

For some reason, Sam Nunberg, a former adviser to President Trump's campaign, decided to immolate on cable news Monday afternoon, appearing multiple times on MSNBC, CNN, and NY1, and conducting phone interviews with news organizations. Among other jaw-dropping statements, Nunberg said Trump knew about a meeting with Kremlin-linked lawyers, lobbed personal attacks at White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and taunted Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who has subpoenaed his correspondence with several people in Trump' s inner circle. He certainly got everyone's attention.

By Monday night, Nunberg was telling The Associated Press he is probably "going to end up cooperating with" Mueller's investigators after all, but after his "wild, unscripted, and unrestrained antics," ABC News' Kendis Gibson said Tuesday morning, "Nunberg's mental stability is being called into question, and some are saying that he was actually just drunk last night."

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Among those suggesting that Nunberg was impaired was a "Trump ally" who told CNN's Erin Burnett that Nunberg was "drunk or off his meds," in her paraphrasing.

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Burnett brought it up again. "Talking to you, I have smelled alcohol on your breath," she told Nunberg. "Well, I've not had a drink," he replied. "You haven't had a drink? Because it is the talk out there," she pressed. "My answer is no, I have not," Nunberg said. "No. Besides my meds. Anti-depressants. Is that okay?"

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The meds are okay, but as Nunberg suggested, he may need to find a new lawyer.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.