President Donald Trump is facing heat for a tweet on Wednesday that suggesting “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough be fired and apparently resurfacing the case of Lori Klausutis, a former intern of the then-congressman who was found dead in his Florida office in 2001.
The president referred to the matter only obliquely as “the unsolved mystery that took place in Florida years ago” and appeared to imply, without citing any additional evidence, that there was foul play that might justify Scarborough’s termination at MSNBC.
So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin? And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the “unsolved mystery” that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017
The president suggestion that the matter has not been resolved contradicts contemporary reports of the incident.
“Preliminary finding’s from the medical examiner’s office showed no foul play or any outward indication of suicide,” the Sarasota Herald Tribune reported in July, 2001.
Local Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Berkland said the 28-year-old’s death was caused by a head injury after she lost consciousness because of an abnormal heart rhythm and fell, hitting her head on a desk, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
Scarborough resigned from Congress shortly thereafter.
Online, the reaction was swift, as critics denounced Trump for using Klausutis’ tragic death for a Twitter shot at Scarborough, a former Republican who was once a Trump ally but has grown increasingly critical since the former real estate mogul assumed the White House.
Scarborough took the first shot — followed by his brother.
Looks like I picked a good day to stop responding to Trump's bizarre tweets. He is not well. https://t.co/XJhW5ZHNfs
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) November 29, 2017
Outrageous reference re @JoeNBC where @potus @realDonaldTrump just crossed the line with me. I need to see a public apology to my brother Joe or else he has lost my support for good … which is saying a ton given all the support I’ve shown him in past 2 years. https://t.co/3lXfBPnaTV
— George Scarborough (@GeoScarborough) November 29, 2017
This is the president attempting to exploit the tragic death of a young woman — one who had heart problems and hit her head when she fell — to score a cheap spurious political point. Indecent. Inhumane. https://t.co/UAvbhYPCnQ
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 29, 2017
The president brings up the incident in which a woman was found dead in Scarborough’s district office in 2001. Authorities said immediately that it was a non-suspicious death; medical examiner said she had an undiagnosed heart condition. pic.twitter.com/zshjL3C3yw
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/935883615535280128
So far Donald Trump today…
– Retweeted three videos from an alt-right site
– Said to boycott CNN
– Accused Joe Scarborough of murder
– Possible nuclear warIt’s not even fucking 10am yet!
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) November 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/HashtagGriswold/status/935889216197840896
MSNBC has declined to comment on the matter. Inquiries to Joe Scarborough were not returned on Wednesday morning.