CNN Chief Jeff Zucker Defends Hiring Ex-Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski

NEW YORK ― CNN chief Jeff Zucker defended the hiring of former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski at a Tuesday town hall, telling employees that the network needed to bring in voices supportive of the Republican nominee to balance its commentary ranks, according to network sources.

The June 23 hiring of Lewandowski rankled journalists inside and outside CNN given the former campaign manager’s seeming disdain for the press. In addition to overseeing a media blacklist, Lewandowski grabbed reporter Michelle Fields, now with The Huffington Post, and reportedly pushed CNN correspondent Noah Gray. He also once threatened to blacklist Gray for leaving the “press pen” at an event.