Disputed CNN Report at Center of Defamation Trial: Editor’s Testimony Raises Questions

CNN Defamation Trial: Editor Who Said Story Was ‘Full of Holes Like Swiss Cheese’ Grilled on Witness Stand

In a bombshell revelation during the ongoing CNN defamation trial, Thomas Lumley, the network’s senior national security editor, faced intense questioning on the witness stand after admitting that a story he oversaw was “full of holes like Swiss cheese.”

The story in question is at the center of the high-stakes defamation case brought by Navy veteran Alex Marquardt. According to internal CNN messages revealed during the trial, Lumley expressed deep frustration with the report, calling it “pretty flawed” and stating that he didn’t feel comfortable publishing it online.

When questioned about his use of the phrase “full of holes like Swiss cheese,” Lumley struggled to clarify what he meant by it, admitting that it was “imprecise language.” He claimed that the comment referred specifically to a single issue, namely the question of what happened next to the Afghans mentioned in the story.

However, this explanation did little to quell the ire of Judge David C. Shaw, who pressed Lumley on whether an “obscured fact” could be considered a lie. Lumley’s response was evasive, stating that he couldn’t speak for colleague Megan Trimble’s comment about obscured facts.

Furthermore, Lumley admitted that the story ran on multiple other CNN programs after its initial broadcast on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” despite his own reservations about the report’s quality. He also acknowledged that one critical element – which he referred to as a “fundamental question” – could not be addressed within the time constraints of the digital report.

Despite his earlier criticisms, Lumley testified that the story was still both fair and accurate when asked directly. The trial will continue on Wednesday, with streaming available through Fox News Digital.

Source: www.foxnews.com