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NYT, CNBC Reporter: Media Coverage of Clinton Emails Was 'Dumb,' 'Obviously Ridiculous'

John Harwood says Clinton's actions were not a 'big f***ing deal'

CNBC's John Harwood at media event / Getty Images
CNBC's John Harwood / Getty Images
September 18, 2017

CNBC host and New York Times contributor John Harwood on Monday criticized the media's coverage of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and handling of classified materials, arguing it was "just dumb" and "exaggerated" the story's significance.

Harwood responded to a tweet from New York University (NYU) professor Jay Rosen saying the media had a role in electing Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Harwood sparred with critics, insisting the FBI investigation into the Democratic candidate's use of a private email server while at the State Department was not a "big f***ing deal," and the classified information found on the server was "inconsequential."

During the election, Harwood faced scrutiny when WikiLeaks released a series of emails that showed Harwood giving advice to the Clinton campaign and praising her campaign ads.

In one email to campaign chairman John Podesta, Harwood wrote, "I imagine … that Obama feels some (sad) vindication at this demonstration of his years-long point about the opposition party veering off the rails."

Another of the emails from summer 2015, well before the Clinton investigation closed, showed Harwood trashing his own paper's story that praised Biden as a potential 2016 presidential candidate. Harwood emailed Podesta, "Cannot believe Biden story is leading the paper."

"Correct me if I am wrong, since you would know better, but it strikes me that ‘Biden is actively exploring’ is the new ‘criminal referral of Hillary Clinton’ if you know what I mean," Harwood dismissively told Podesta.

Despite Harwood's claims, there has been a number of experts who have labeled Clinton's actions as criminal.