They trade insults over Russian involvement in the plane crash. | POLITICO Screen grab CNN's Cuomo, RT host battle

The gloves came off between CNN’s Chris Cuomo and Russia Today’s Peter Lavelle on Wednesday in a lengthy segment over the handling of the investigation and crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

In a nearly 10-minute back and forth, the two hosts fought — and traded insults — over whether the U.S. has provided intelligence to support suspicions of Russia’s involvement. Afterward, Cuomo apologized to viewers and said the segment “became a little bit too heated.”


Cuomo opened the exchange by asking Lavelle why Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t condemned the handling of the Flight 17 crash site.

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“Vladimir Putin doesn’t control a crime scene in a foreign country. I think it’s quite ludicrous for you to ask that question,” Lavelle responded, adding that Putin has called for a complete investigation.

The Russia Today host instead pointed a finger at the State Department, which he said was relying on Twitter and YouTube for evidence.

“Maybe you haven’t been following it, but the U.S. has actually [come] out with its own intelligence” connecting Russia to possibly assisting the separatists, Cuomo said.

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“What forensic evidence are you referring to? Twitter?” Lavelle replied.

“I do not think, Peter, that this is something to be flip about—298 people lost their lives, let’s not play politics here,” Cuomo shot back.

The hosts continued talking over each other about the investigation and Russia’s involvement.

“Peter, why are you afraid to hear what I’m saying? I’m not here to fight with you. I just left the crime scene; the last thing I want to see is more violence of any kind, verbal or otherwise,” Cuomo said.

Lavelle said the U.S. should be releasing and comparing satellite data and when Cuomo said it has done so, Lavelle told the anchor, “You’re living in a parallel universe!”

“Peter, calm down, take a breath. We’ve already had something bad happen, there’s no reason to compound it,” Cuomo said.

Lavelle snapped back, “Ask me an intelligent question.”

“I think I’ve asked you several. Your answers, I don’t know about the intelligence of, but the questions are pretty spot on. Let me ask you again because I’m not a representative of the U.S.; you seem to be acting like a representative of Russia,” Cuomo said.

Lavelle interjected, “Great, character assassination. So you went to character assassination in what? Five minutes?”

“You sound like Jen Psaki at the U.S. State Department,” Lavelle continued.

“No, what I sound like is a reporter who feels deeply for the 298 lives who were lost, who were not part of this conflict and don’t need to be part of your discussion about whether Russia is being unfairly blamed,” Cuomo replied.

The pair continued in a lengthy back and forth and speaking over one another, before Cuomo expressed exasperation.

“This is a joke. We gotta get out of this,” Cuomo said.

After ending the segment, Cuomo told viewers, “The last thing I want to do is to stoke some type of useless conversation, the emotion sometimes gets the better of you, especially when you’ve been on the scene … I apologize for getting involved for what became more about emotion than reason there for a moment.”

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