WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 08: Former FBI Director James Comey leaves a closed session with the Senate Intelligence Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill June 8, 2017 in Washington, DC. Comey said that President Donald Trump pressured him to drop the FBI's investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and demanded Comey's loyalty during the one-on-one meetings he had with president. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (CNN) — On Wednesday night, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders sat down with CNN’s Chris Cuomo. Cuomo started the interview with what seemed like a simple question. Here it is: “This meeting matters, you know it does. I understand the reference to counsel. I get it. Not just because I’m an attorney, but you don’t want to answer for the lawyers, you don’t want to answer for an operation that you’re not a part of. I get it. But you can answer for what you said. You don’t have to refer to counsel for that. (Jay) Sekulow is not your lawyer. He’s the President’s lawyer. You’re saying, he didn’t dictate this. He did what any father would do. That turns out not to be true. You agree with that?” And now for a quick bit of context: In August 2017, Sanders told the White House press corps that President Donald Trump had not dictated the statement from his son, Donald Trump Jr., to the New York Times regarding a June 2016 meeting with Russians at Trump Tower. According to a 20-page memo sent by Trump’s legal team to special counsel Robert Mueller’s office in January, Trump did, in fact, dictate the Don Jr. statement. Which puts Sanders in a, um, precarious position. She quite clearly didn’t tell the truth – for some reason. She was either misinformed by someone above her or she purposely misled the press. Which is it? We don’t know. Because Sanders won’t answer any questions – despite being questioned about it repeatedly by the press corps – about the clear contradiction between her past statement and, well, the truth. So. Cuomo asks Sanders to explain. And asks. And asks. And asks. And asks. And asks. Below are the 13(!) “answers” Sanders offered Cuomo, in chronological order. I’ve added a few thoughts (in the narrator voice of Ron Howard on “Arrested Development”) in italics after Sanders’ “answers.”<doc-sep>White House Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has come under heat this week for dodging reporters questions. Sanders sat down with CNN's Chris Cuomo to air her side of the story. She spent her interview segment critiquing reporters and Democrats. During her interview she mainly relied on her same response she gives reporters during the press briefings. "I answered this question on Monday. I answered it on Tuesday, and I'm going to answer it the same way today, and you're probably not going to like it anymore," Sanders said. "But this is a legal matter and the appropriate individuals to answer questions on a legal matter are the outside counsel. And I would direct you to them." She said that just because people don't like the answer does not mean she will change her answers. "I answered it and you don't like the answer. There's a big difference between me answering it and you not liking the answer." Sanders went into a rant about how she is an "honest" person. After that, Sanders said that Democrats will have to make a choice between America and President Trump. “The Democrats no longer have a message… Democrats are going to have to decide at some point… that they hate this President more than they love this country." Sanders then said she wasn't worried about credibility. "I'm very comfortable with my credibility, and the fact that I think by sitting here right now and taking questions from you shows the type of person I am. It shows my effort to provide information. And frankly, to be in an environment that's not exactly friendly, that's not exactly one that I think a lot of people in my position would come and sit in. And I think that speaks a lot to my credibility," she said. Watch below:<doc-sep>White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that she doesn't regret commenting about the president's involvement in crafting a statement about a 2016 Trump Tower meeting. CNN's Chris Cuomo pressed Sanders repeatedly over her statement last August that President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE didn't dictate the statement, even though his lawyers recently acknowledged he did. Sanders continued to deflect new inquiries about the matter, prompting questions about her credibility. “I’m very comfortable with my credibility, and the fact that by sitting here right now shows the type of person I am, shows my effort to provide information, and frankly to be in an environment that’s not exactly friendly,” Sanders said on "Cuomo Primetime." ADVERTISEMENT The New York Times reported Saturday that Trump's lawyers wrote to special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerSenate Democrats urge Garland not to fight court order to release Trump obstruction memo Why a special counsel is guaranteed if Biden chooses Yates, Cuomo or Jones as AG Barr taps attorney investigating Russia probe origins as special counsel MORE in January about his ongoing probe into possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. In the letter, Trump's lawyers confirmed that Trump dictated a statement about a meeting between his son, Donald Trump Jr. Don TrumpBook claims Trump family members were 'inappropriately' close with Secret Service agents Trump Jr. shares edited video showing father knocking Biden down with golf ball Trump: 'I can't imagine' any Republican would beat me in 2024 primary if I run MORE, and a Russian lawyer who had promised dirt on Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillary Clinton takes on conspiracy theories on Borat special Top general: Russia, China will look to expand influence in Middle East as US pulls back We have a chance to halt climate change if we stop destroying carbon sinks and cut methane MORE. Sanders said last August that the president may have offered guidance on the statement "as any father would," but denied that Trump dictated it. Sanders has faced numerous questions in recent days over the inaccuracy of her original comments, but has referred them all to the president's outside legal counsel. On Tuesday, Sanders defended her credibility, arguing it's "probably higher than the media's." She did the same on Wednesday, prompting Cuomo to ask whether her combative relationship with the press is sustainable. "What I think is important to remember is you guys get to ask the questions but you can’t always complain about the answers. You constantly ask the same questions over and over again," Sanders said. She suggested that the media's job "is to get information and report the news," but that many outlets no longer present even-handed coverage. Sanders told Cuomo she's enjoying her job, adding that it's "going pretty well." "I think the country is moving in the right direction and it’s doing that under the president’s leadership and I’m proud to be a part of that," she said.<doc-sep>
In a fiery exclusive interview, CNN’s Chris Cuomo and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders went toe-to-toe, with unsatisfying results for both sides. Cuomo began by asking Sanders about comments she made regarding President Donald Trump‘s involvement with a statement put out by Donald Trump, Jr. “You don’t want to answer for an operation that you’re not a part of. I get it. But you can answer for what you said,” Cuomo said. “You don’t have to refer to counsel for that. [Jay] Sekulow is not your lawyer, he’s the president’s lawyer. You’re saying, ‘he didn’t dictate this, he did what any father would do.’ That turns out not to be true. You agree with that?” “I know I answered this question on Monday. I answered it on Tuesday, and I’m going to answer it the same way today and you’re probably not going to like it anymore on Wednesday than it sounds like you liked it on Monday or Tuesday,” Sanders replied. “This is a legal matter and the appropriate individuals to answer questions on a legal matter are the outside counsel. And I would direct you to them. And frankly, I did direct you to them. And you had them here on your set and asked them that question and I would refer you back to that statement.” “I get it. I get that that’s the answer,” Cuomo responded. “But you also get it’s unsatisfying, right? That’s why we’re frozen.” “I don’t understand having to answer the same question over and over and over again,” Sanders shot back. Cuomo was ready with the rebuttal. “Because you haven’t answered it. That’s why,” he told her. “With all due respect, it’s because you didn’t answer it.” “I answered it and you don’t like the answer,” Sanders said. “There’s a big difference between me answering it and you not liking the answer.” Watch more of the intense exchange above, via CNN. [image via screengrab] Have a tip we should know? [email protected]