Fox News Cuts Ties With Former General Who Claimed Torture 'Worked' on 'Songbird John' McCain

Elizabeth Preza
and
AlterNet
May 11, 2018The Right Wing

Fox News and Fox Business Network have cut ties with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney, who on Thursday claimed torture “worked” on Sen. John “Songbird” McCain (R-AZ).

A spokeswoman told CNN’s Brian Stelter on Friday the retired general will no longer appear on the network.

“McInerney will no longer be on Fox Business Network or Fox News Channel,” the spokeswoman said.

Speaking with Fox Business Network's Charles Payne about Gina Haspel, Donald Trump’s nominee for CIA director, McInerney appeared to offer a defense of torture.

“[Haspel] can't use it anymore because we've determined, the Congress, that it's not legal," McInerney said. "The fact is—John McCain. It worked on John.”

"That’s why they call him ‘Songbird John,” he added.

McCain was a POW during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1963. According to Politifact, there’s no evidence he collaborated with the enemy.

Thursday, Payne apologized to McCain claiming he “did not here the comment.”

(This story was updated at 5:53 p.m. on May 11th to reflect that Charles Payne appears on Fox Business Network.)

Report typos and corrections to: feedback@alternet.org.

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