Former President Donald Trump’s defense lawyer Michael van der Veen accused a CBS News anchor of being “bloodthirsty for ratings” during an intense interview.
During the exchange, anchor Lana Zak pressed van der Veen about his claim the House impeachment managers doctored evidence.
“To be clear for our viewers, what you’re talking about now is a check mark that’s a verification on Twitter that did not exist on that particular tweet, a 2020 that should have actually read 2021, and the selective editing, you say, of the tapes,” Zak explained.
She added, “Is that the doctored evidence of which you’re speaking?”
Van der Veen grew frustrated with Zak and interrupted her, “That’s not enough for you?”
Watch the exchange below:
Zak stressed she is not “a juror in this trial” and reminded van der Veen she is just trying to clarify what he means.
“It’s not okay to doctor a little bit of evidence,” van der Veen continued.
Zak told him, “I have not said it is okay. I want to be clear for our viewers about what exactly you’re saying.”
Van der Veen turned his attention to the media and specifically the coverage provided by CBS.
“The media has to start telling the right story in this country. The media is trying to divide this country. You are bloodthirsty for ratings,” he said.
Van der Veen expressed his frustration with the media and argued CBS’s coverage is “slanted.”
“You guys have to stop and start reporting more like PBS does rather than a TV news show that doesn’t have any journalistic integrity at all,” van der Veen said.
Zak began to thank van der Veen for coming on the program when he ripped off his microphone.
Trump was acquitted on the charge of inciting an insurrection on Saturday after the Senate failed to acquire the 67 votes needed to convict him, as IJR reported.