CNN responds to Trump’s request to retract poll

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CNN fired back at Donald Trump’s campaign’s demand to retract a poll showing former Vice President Joe Biden leading.

The network’s general counsel responded to the Trump campaign via a letter that was also released to the public — sans some of the Trump campaign’s contact information.

“To my knowledge, this is the first time in its 40 year history that CNN had been threatened with legal action because an American politician or campaign did not like CNN’s polling results,” the letter signed by David Vigilante.

Vigilante goes on to compare the Trump campaign’s demand as threats the network has received from ruling regimes in countries such as Venezuela.

The letter also responds to McLaughlin & Associates’ purported debunking of CNN’s poll by pointing out its errors in the past and its rating on FiveThirtyEight.

At least some of McLaughlin’s information was refuted by CNN — including the claim that the poll used only a general adult population sampling and not one of registered voters.

In the letter, CNN also points out that McLaughlin also had the advantage of being able to systemically pick apart the poll because CNN released the data and methodology behind it.

Later, the network acknowledges that McLaughlin’s analysis of the poll is protected under free speech — despite the fact CNN disputes it.

The letter concludes by pointedly rejecting the Trump camp’s requests to retract the poll and accuses Trump’s attorneys of issuing a “factually and legally baseless” claim — and trampling on first amendment rights.

Official response from CNN General Counsel to @TeamTrump‘s letter demanding CNN apologize for a poll that shows @JoeBiden leading. pic.twitter.com/pQaGPxsA0y

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) June 10, 2020