Former actress and current MAGA spokesperson Caroline Sunshine sparked controversy on air for the second night in a row. CNN NewsNight programs on Thursday (August 6), calling Dr. Anthony Fauci a "classic sociopath.".
The panelists discussed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and Fauci's potential prosecution before Congress. This followed the publication of diary entries from Fauci's time leading the US response to the pandemic.
«"He acted at the direction of the Trump administration; that's worth noting," author Leigh McGowan said, according to Mediaite. "He had no authority to do any of the things he's accused of. He didn't shut down the country; Trump did that. He didn't close schools; Trump did that. He didn't mandate masks; Trump did that.".
Sunshine, a former Disney Channel actress who worked in the Trump White House in 2018, disagreed with Fauci being used as a scapegoat. "Forget prosecution, this guy needs to be committed to a mental institution! He's a typical sociopath," she said.
Her statement caused quite a stir in the studio, with the panelists shouting over each other. Through the shouting, Sunshine continued her angry rant, declaring, "I mean, our response to the pandemic is being led by a DSM-5 level sociopath, who has low empathy, is capable of hurting innocents, and is a narcissist.".
Eventually, host Abby Phillip intervened, asking Sunshine, "What are you talking about?"«
Sunshine pointed to passages in Fauci's diary in which he appeared to revel in the public attention. However, Phillip disagreed that this justified calling him a "sociopath.".
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CNN panelists burst into laughter at pro-Trump pundit's "ridiculous" claim.
«"Are you saying he should be committed to a mental institution for having an inflated ego, which I think is characteristic of almost every person in Washington?" the CNN host said.
As Sunshine continued to press her point, former White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews interrupted, saying, "I admit, was it really frustrating to work in the White House press office and see him on the cover of a magazine or in a TV interview saying bad things about the White House and its COVID-19 response? Yeah, it was annoying.".
However, she added that Republicans were wrong to try to "scapegoat him and say it was all his fault. We were dealing with a new virus.".
You can watch the segment in the video above, courtesy of RawStory, and share your thoughts in the comments below.
CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip , weekdays, 11/10 Central Time, CNN.
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