GOP's Matthew Bartlett Says Dems Did Crockett 'Dirty'

"On MS NOW's The Weekend, Bartlett, who was a State Department appointee in President Donald Trump's first administration, called talk of Trump suppression of an interview between late-night comedian Stephen Colbert and Texas State Representative James Talarico (D) a false narrative. Colbert claimed during a recent broadcast that he was told by CBS lawyers in no uncertain terms that he could not air the Talarico interview because he may violate an equal time rule with the FCC,"

"THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled, they said. The interview was dropped on YouTube where it's received millions of views."

"Listen, I, you know, as a conservative, I think there's been a lot of political maneuvering that has been quite impressive, Bartlett said on Saturday. This notion of Trump is going to stop Colbert in order to stop Talarico, people kind of went with this narrative. I'm not sure it's true. I think, candidly, they've actually done Jasmine Crockett dirty."

Republican strategist Matthew Bartlett defended Representative Jasmine Crockett and criticized Democrats for treating her unfairly amid the Colbert–Talarico interview controversy. Stephen Colbert said CBS lawyers warned that airing the Talarico interview could violate the FCC equal-time rule. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has signaled increased enforcement and opened a probe into The View for potential violations. CBS said The Late Show was not barred from broadcasting the interview but received legal guidance that the segment could trigger equal-time obligations for other candidates, including Crockett, and offered options to satisfy equal time. The interview was posted to YouTube and drew millions of views and a $2.5 million fundraising boost for Talarico.

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