ICYMI: Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg had an epic on-air meltdown
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Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg melted down live on television over a series of interviews on Monday.
Nunberg, apparently beleaguered by the ongoing Russia investigation, seemed to get more agitated as the day progressed, vowing not to cooperate with Robert Mueller’s investigation and even at one point telling Josh Dawsey, “let him arrest me.”
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With each interview, reporters seemed concerned about Nunberg’s actions, warning him that he could face real legal trouble for flaunting Mueller’s subpoena and going on a national stage to defy an investigation.
It was, as Axios described, an “epic meltdown,” and it brought up questions of what reporters should do when faced with a troubled interviewee like that.
At one point, CNN’s Erin Burnett even suggested that he might be drunk.
“Talking to you, I have smelled alcohol on your breath. … I know it’s awkward,” she said.
But Nunberg said he wasn’t on anything “besides my meds — antidepressants. Is that OK?”‘
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Here's CNN's Erin Burnett telling former Trump aide Sam Nunberg that she can smell alcohol on his breath. He says he hasn't been drinking. pic.twitter.com/tryye9AiqA
— Jim Dalrymple II (@Dalrymple) March 6, 2018
Nunberg is now taking a much calmer approach
After the apparent breakdown on Monday, Nunberg went dark on Tuesday and didn’t show to interviews anymore.
He did, however, reverse his opinion on cooperating with Mueller’s investigation, telling the AP, “I’m going to end up cooperating with them.”
Nunberg, who worked for Trump in 2015 but was fired from the campaign, has remained a prominent Trump supporter despite his tumultuous relationship with the president.
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But it looks like that support and the pressure of the ongoing Russia investigation has come crashing down on his head, and he doesn’t know how to handle it.
Mueller is looking into the Trump campaign and administration to determine whether they had any ties to Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. He is also looking into Donald Trump himself to determine whether he obstructed justice in his attempts to slow down that investigation.
