**Note: This post has been updated to include a statement from CNN.
A local San Diego television station has publicly called out CNN, saying the network declined to work with the station after discovering they reported that most Border Patrol agents say a border wall or barrier would be effective.
KUSI said CNN called its newsroom on Thursday morning asking if one of its reporters could provide the network with a “local view” of the border wall debate and the government shutdown.
KUSI offered their reporter Dan Plante, who had reported dozens of times on the border, “including one story from 2016 that was retweeted by former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, and posted on DrudgeReport.com.”
“We believe CNN declined a report from KUSI because we informed them that most Border Patrol Agents we have spoken to told us the barrier does in fact work,” states the TV station.
Thursday morning, @CNN called the KUSI Newsroom asking if a reporter could give them a local view of the debate surrounding the border wall and government shutdown. After we informed them about our past reports, they declined to hear from us.
More info: https://t.co/RX4mB6EdNE pic.twitter.com/r0SAvWxFIm
— KUSI News (@KUSINews) January 11, 2019
“We have continuously been told by Border Patrol Agents that the barrier along the Southern border helps prevent illegal entries, drugs, and weapons from entering the United States, and the numbers prove it.”
Instead of working with KUSI, it appears CNN decided to have its own Jim Acosta to report on the border wall…which, as you may know, backfired spectacularly.
I would like to thank @Acosta for pointing out how peaceful, safe and secure it is at a part of the border that HAS a wall. #RealNews #BuildTheWall https://t.co/bkssL9nOW3
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) January 10, 2019
Jim Acosta posts video from the border wall, promptly gets buried by everyone on Twitter including President Trumphttps://t.co/09bfrIgFSD pic.twitter.com/O0EO7BTHhh
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 11, 2019
When I went with President @realDonaldTrump to the border today I never imagined @Acosta would be there doing our job for us and so clearly explaining why WALLS WORK. Thanks Jim! https://t.co/7wC4rdEsZ2
— Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) January 10, 2019
CNN denies the claims from KUSI and responded with the following statement: “We called several local stations to book someone for a show. We didn’t end up booking any of them. That happens many times every single day. We did, however, book a reporter from KUSI for a story on immigration and the border wall in November. This is a non story.”
