CNN is facing blowback from news outlets, pundits and politicians, as well as some its own employees, for hiring a former Republican operative as its Washington bureau political editor.

The criticism comes after a Tuesday report that Sarah Isgur Flores, who served as spokeswoman to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE, had been hired by the news network. She also was a former political operative for Sen. Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneySenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (R-Utah), Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R-Texas) and Carly Fiorina.

CNN confirmed the hire to Politico, but has released no official announcement with details around its decision.

The Hill has reached out to CNN for comment.

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The headlines around the move were scathing, with many asking why the network would hire a political operative.

"CNN hires GOP operative with no journalism experience to coordinate its 2020 coverage," reads one Vox headline.

"CNN Just Set the New Standard for Corporate Media's Chickensh*t Catering to Republicans," says another in Esquire.

"WTF?!?! CNN Staffers ‘Demoralized’ by Hiring of GOP Operative Sarah Isgur to Edit 2020 Coverage," according to a Daily Beast report.

Political figures, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezHouse passes bill to avert shutdown Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' The Memo: Dems face balancing act on SCOTUS fight MORE (D-N.Y.), also weighed in on the hire.

"Sorry, didn’t get the latest memo after 1,000 experienced and qualified journalists of all stripes were let go w/o warning a few weeks ago and still looking for work: are we still pretending that hires like these are evidence of a meritocracy?" she asked rhetorically.

Sorry, didn’t get the latest memo after 1,000 experienced + qualified journalists of all stripes were let go w/o warning a few weeks ago and still looking for work: are we still pretending that hires like these are evidence of a meritocracy? https://t.co/Qb9JNgcdT2 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 20, 2019

Many media members also pointed out Flores's lack of journalism experience.

WHAT? Ex-Jeff Sessions spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores is joining CNN as a political editor. https://t.co/7WXuOnbMce — Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) February 19, 2019

But back to Sarah Isgur Flores and CNN for a second: Remember that she *pledged loyalty to Trump* in order to get her last job. But hey, sure, have her coordinate your 2020 coverage, CNN. Sure that'll be fair and not full of empty podiums/free Trump ads. https://t.co/c8mhZzVpSZ — Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) February 19, 2019

Throwback to when Sarah Isgur Flores heckled Jeff Zucker about CNN's Trump coverage in 2016!https://t.co/ZrT2AQSREk pic.twitter.com/9mxP64WYG9 — Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) February 19, 2019

From Carly to Sessions to CNN: Sarah Isgur Flores https://t.co/jxeCuc4iIS — Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) February 19, 2019

How many thousands of qualified journalists would have to turn down this job before CNN would make this mistake? https://t.co/8wU4bgkhDG — Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) February 20, 2019

.@CNN your political director called you the Clinton News Network pic.twitter.com/CZdejic3fF — Jesse Lehrich (@JesseLehrich) February 19, 2019

CNN's new political editor has worked for every Republican but hasn't done any journalism pic.twitter.com/2q1oAgj7dB — Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) February 19, 2019

CNN faced criticism earlier this year after hiring John Kasich, with some questioning why the network gave the former Republican governor of Ohio a national platform to ostensibly to push an eventual primary challenge to President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE.

Updated at 9:57 a.m.