CNN's Jake Tapper calls possible collusion between CNN, Clinton 'horrifying'

Jake Tapper.
(Image credit: Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)

CNN's Jake Tapper slammed his former colleague, Donna Brazile, over what appears from WikiLeaks emails to have been coordination with the Hillary Clinton campaign before a Democratic town hall. From the emails, it seems Brazile warned Clinton's team of a death penalty question that was later asked in a slightly different form at the forum.

Tapper called the allegations "very, very troubling," but maintained he has "tremendous regard for" Brazile in an interview with WMAL yesterday. He added that "I know CNN, we were so closely guarding our documents ... they weren’t emailed around."

But the allegations are clearly bothering Tapper: "It's horrifying. Journalistically it's horrifying and I'm sure it will have an impact on partnering with this organization in the future ... I condemn it in no uncertain terms, it's awful," he said.

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Brazile, who is no longer with CNN and is serving as the DNC's interim-chair, defended herself in a statement Tuesday, claiming the email had been forged. "I never had access to questions and would never have shared them with the candidates if I did," she said. Listen to the interview with Tapper, below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.