C-SPAN: Debate moderator didn’t post questionable tweet

FILE – The set is shown during a presidential debate at UNLV on Oct. 19, 2016, in Las Vegas. C-SPAN said in a statement Friday, Oct. 9, 2020, that its political editor, Steve Scully, host of the second presidential debate, didn’t initiate a questionable Twitter exchange with Anthony Scaramucci and that the Commission on Presidential Debates is investigating with help from authorities. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, FILE)

by: Nexstar Media Wire and The Associated Press

Posted: Oct 9, 2020 / 07:45 PM AST

Updated: Oct 9, 2020 / 07:34 PM AST

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — C-SPAN said Friday that its political editor Steve Scully, set to moderate the now-scrapped second presidential debate, didn’t initiate a questionable Twitter exchange with Anthony Scaramucci and that Scully’s account apparently was hacked.

The tweet, which appeared Thursday on Scully’s Twitter account, read: ”@Scaramucci should I respond to trump,” according to a screenshot of the since-deleted tweet.

Earlier Thursday evening, President Donald Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he thought Scully was a “never Trumper” who had worked for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden at one point. Scully served as an intern for then-Sen. Biden for a month in 1978.

.@SteveScully, the Never Trumper next debate moderator, got caught cold. Pulled out the old, “I’ve been hacked”, line. That never works. His bosses are furious at him as he’s lost all credibility!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2020

Scaramucci, who became a Trump detractor after serving briefly as his communications director, reportedly replied in part to Scully’s twitter account, “Ignore. He is having a hard enough time. “

I accept @SteveScully at his word. Let’s not cancel anymore people from our culture for absolutely something like this. It’s insignificant. He is an objective journalist.
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) October 9, 2020

“Steve Scully did not originate the tweet and believes his account has been hacked,” C-SPAN said in a statement Friday. “The Commission on Presidential Debates has stated publicly that the tweet was not sent by Scully himself and is investigating with the help of authorities. When additional information is available, we will release it.”

Steve Scully’s Twitter account appeared to have been locked down by Friday afternoon.

Frank Fahrenkopf, chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, said during a Fox News Radio interview Friday with host Brian Kilmeade that Scully “was hacked.”

Scully could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

He was set to serve as moderator of the second Trump-Biden meeting, a town hall format on Oct. 15. The commission announced Friday afternoon that the second debate had been canceled and it was focusing on an Oct. 22 debate scheduled to be held in Nashville, Tennessee. NBC News’ Kristen Welker is slated to serve as moderator.