As Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz testified about his report on Obama’s DOJ and FBI abuses in the FISA applications to spy on the Trump campaign, CNN and MSNBC cut away from the hearing just as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) delivered his opening statement. This was a stark departure from the liberal-leaning networks’ coverage of Democrat-led congressional hearings on impeachment.

The bias was not lost on the Trump campaign.

“After airing days & days of Democrat impeachment hearings, FAKE NEWS [CNN] and [MSNBC] are REFUSING to air [Lindsey Graham]’s opening statement in the Inspector General’s report hearing,” the Trump War Room tweeted. “They are COVERING UP the truth. They are nothing more than propaganda for the Democrats!”

After airing days & days of Democrat impeachment hearings, FAKE NEWS @CNN and @MSNBC are REFUSING to air @LindseyGrahamSC's opening statement in the Inspector General's report hearing. They are COVERING UP the truth. They are nothing more than propaganda for the Democrats! pic.twitter.com/i7wyLNPVgl — Trump War Room – Text WOKE to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) December 11, 2019

Paul Green, a retired NYPD officer, tweeted footage showing Fox News covering the hearing while CNN and MSNBC cut to commercials.

IG Horowitz about to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen Graham laying out a scathing timeline of the Trump spying/surveillance FISA court abuses. FOX covering live. CNN/MSNBC refusing to cover this breaking newsworthy event. Fake News by omission. Shocking. pic.twitter.com/UdwHp8flen — Paul Geren (@KeysRetired) December 11, 2019

While MSNBC aired some of Graham’s statement, the network cut away quickly. CNN appears not to have covered his opening statement at all.

Conservatives called out CNN for this blatant bias.

“Major misstep by CNN, after blanketing Democratic hearings, to blow off Lindsey Graham’s opening statement (and Feinstein’s) at IG hearing. And MSNBC dipped in and out of Graham. Fuels the criticism that they’ve taken sides,” Fox News host Howard Kurtz tweeted.

Major misstep by CNN, after blanketing Democratic hearings, to blow off Lindsey Graham's opening statement (and Feinstein's) at IG hearing. And MSNBC dipped in and out of Graham. Fuels the criticism that they've taken sides — HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) December 11, 2019

“CNN and MSNBC refusing to run Senator Lindsey Graham’s opening statement in the Horowitz hearing. The most blatant form of media bias that I have ever seen. RIP, American journalism,” Bill O’Reilly tweeted.

CNN and MSNBC refusing to run Senator Lindsey Graham’s opening statement in the Horowitz hearing. The most blatant form of media bias that I have ever seen. RIP, American journalism. — Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) December 11, 2019

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel also pointed out the censorship. “CNN aired everything Schiff & Nadler had to say. Why aren’t they showing [Lindsey Graham]? Is it because the facts of how the FBI mistreated [Donald Trump] contradict their coverage over the last 3 years?”

CNN aired everything Schiff & Nadler had to say. Why aren’t they showing @LindseyGrahamSC? Is it because the facts of how the FBI mistreated @realDonaldTrump contradict their coverage over the last 3 years? https://t.co/AdVYf8RHzV — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) December 11, 2019

Just in case you missed it, here’s the Lindsey Graham opening statement CNN refused to air. It’s a doozy.

Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.