CNN legal analyst clashes with White House over Hur report: 'Defensive bluster'

CNN legal analyst Elie Honig challenged White House Counsel spokesman Ian Sams to "respond with substance rather than defensive bluster" after Sams blasted his coverage of the Hur report.

On Friday, Honig published a piece for New York Magazine arguing that President Biden knew "all along" he had classified documents in his home and "definitely misled the American public." After the piece was quoted and shared by NBC News correspondent Ken Dilanian, Sams lashed out at both parties.

The White House, and particularly Sams, has been trying to discredit claims about Special Counsel Robert Hur's report into Biden's handling of classified documents.

"This is an embarrassingly false assessment by Elie Honig, amplified by Ken Dilanian, both of whom are smart and can read but apparently haven’t," Sams wrote in a social media post. "All these theories are raised in the report then thoroughly dissembled by facts & evidence. I laid it all out in a letter to the press."

Honig rejected Sams’ critique, arguing instead that "The White House spokesperson should read the piece and respond with substance rather than defensive bluster."

Sams' tweet included a copy of his controversial letter to the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) criticizing members for having "reported striking inaccuracies" he said gave a misleading portrayal of Hur's conclusions. He also charged that reporters in the White House briefing room have asked questions including "false content or are based on false premises."

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WHCA President Kelly O’Donnell responded forcefully with a letter of her own, calling Sams' letter "misdirected" and writing, "It is