DNC linked to more CNN interview questions as WikiLeaks hit by cyberattack

WikiLeaks announced on Monday that they have come under a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) cyberattack as they continue to release hacked emails pertaining to the 2016 election. A day earlier, WikiLeaks was in headlines for dropping more proof that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) worked with CNN to formulate questions for Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

Twitter also experienced issues early this morning, though it is unknown whether their loss of service coincides with the problems faced by WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks is operational, though it is currently unknown where the DDoS attack came from, or the extent of any damage it might have caused.

photo/ Gerd Altmann via pixabay

From the emails released: DNC Research Director Lauren Dillon sent a pair of emails to other staffers. The first email had the subject line “Trump Questions for CNN”: “[CNN host] Wolf Blitzer is interviewing [Donald Trump] on Tues ahead of his foreign policy address on Wed. Please send me thoughts by 10:30 AM tomorrow,” Dillon wrote her colleagues.

The other DNC staffers sent a series of critical and difficult questions to ask Trump on foreign policy. But Dillon wrote back a few hours later to tell them that “CNN said the interview was cancelled as of now, but will keep the questions for the next one.”

Dillon sent a second email about an upcoming CNN interview with Ted Cruz. In the second email, Dillon claimed it was CNN themselves who were soliciting the questions: “CNN is looking for questions. Please send some topical/interesting ones,” she wrote.

CNN not only didn’t deny the communications, but they claim it is regular practice.

In a statement to Mediaite, CNN denied there was anything unseemly about the network’s conduct. “This is completely unremarkable. We have similar communications with Republicans,” a spokesman said. “When preparing for interviews we are regularly sent suggestions from rival campaigns and political parties, both solicited and unsolicited. Casting a wide net to ensure a tough and fair interview isn’t just common media practice, it’s smart.”

photo/ donkeyhotey