Don Lemon admonishes CNN contributor and Republican commentator Paris Dennard for not believing in a connection and the correlation between the election of Donald Trump as president and a reporter allegedly attacked by a Republican congressional candidate in Montana.



"No, I think if we go back and look at history, we can see that especially in this country, we have had a lot of instances of violence with politicians and people going back and forth," Dennard said of Trump's involvement in Montana GOP Congressional candidate Greg Gianforte's decision to attack a reporter.



"I'm just saying I can't believe that you believe the words that are coming out of your mouth," Lemon said to Dennard. "You're obviously on television saying that because you feel that you have to defend everything about this particular person in office."



"Reporters, there are fake people back there, they're horrible people, they are enemy of the American people. If you think that doesn't have anything to do with it, then you're sadly, sadly mistaken, my friend," Lemon said Wednesday night.



Transcript, via CNN:





DON LEMON, CNN: So let's talk about this breaking news, Ana. You and I have been discussing this just moments ago. You heard what the sheriff said. The reporter, as the sheriff says, the alleged victim, is being interviewed right now. What does this say to you? What do you think happened in that room?



NAVARRO: I have no idea, but I did just read a piece that was put on Twitter and I tweeted it out by an eyewitness who happened to be a Fox News reporter who's got a line in what she tells where she says, you know, that they watched in disbelief as Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck and slammed him into the ground behind them. So, that's really...



(CROSSTALK)



LEMON: Let me read it for you, Ana, and then you can respond to it. She said, the reporter said, and this is again, from a Fox News crew says, "At that point Gianforte grabbed Jacobs by the neck with both hands and slammed him into the ground behind him. Faith, Keith and I watched in disbelief as Gianforte then began punching the man as he moved on to the reporter -- on top the reporter and began yelling something to the effect of I am sick and tired of this. Jacob scrambled to his knees and said something about his glasses being broken. He asked Faith, Keith, and myself for our names in shock, we did not answer."



"He said he wanted the police called and went to leave. Gianforte looked to the three of us and reported -- repeatedly apologized and that point I told him and Scanlon who was now present that we needed a moment and then the men then left."



So, her account sounds a lot like what we heard on the tape, not like the statement they put out.



NAVARRO: Right. We've got her account. We also heard on TV the account of the BuzzFeed reporter who was able to watch some of it and we've got the audio. So there's a lot of corroborating evidence for the reporter's story and the way he's telling it.



It's going to for the sheriff, the law enforcement authorities in Montana to figure it out and investigate. It's going to be for the voters of Montana to make a judgment.



But I think for those of us reading it and hearing it, the conclusion we've forgot to reach is that there was some form of assault. This guy lost his temper, completely flew off the handle.



LEMON: I want to...



NAVARRO: And instead of accepting his mistake, is trying to make up some stupid story.



LEMON: I want to get at the rest of the panel in. Alice, what do you think of this?



ALICE STEWART, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, CNN: Well, let me just say first, I haven't seen the video. I've heard the audio. It is disturbing. I know Ben. I've work with him on numerous occasions out in the field on numerous occasions and he's one of the more mild- mannered reporters out there, very kind, very generous person.



And at times he's asked some questions we may not want to answer. But based on what we're hearing in the audiotape, it just sounds as though this -- like this person running for office went overboard and it sounds as though he took his anger out on Ben in an inappropriate manner. We don't know.



Obviously this is under investigation. There's a lot that needs to be looked at. Many questions that need to be answered.



(CROSSTALK)



LEMON: And they are cooperating.



STEWART: Yes.



LEMON: They are cooperating with local authorities and I said and this account, again, from a Fox News crew. "To be clear, at no point did any of us who witness this assault see Jacobs show any form of physical aggression toward Gianforte who left the area after giving statements to local sheriff's deputies."



Jason Kander, what do you think?



JASON KANDER, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, CNN: Well, I think it's pretty clear he didn't do anything aggressive. He asked him a question. You can't hit people, you can't assault people. Not just when you're running for office. You just can't do that.



I have a son who's almost 4. You know, we tell him that he can't hit people. So I think the same standard should be applied to everybody else. In society. I think it should be applied to this gentleman and I think that if in fact he did assault him...



(CROSSTALK)



LEMON: Why is this happening now, Jason?



KANDER: You know, clearly there's something in the vitriol, there's vitriol in this political environment but let's be really clear, Don, that should in no way excuse the behavior of this gentleman. If he in fact assaulted this young man, then he should be charged. It's that simple.



LEMON: Yes. Paris, what do you think?



PARIS DENNARD, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, CNN: Yes, Don, you made a very good point in the question that you asked is why is this happening right now? There's a hilarious movie called "The Election" in where, you know, the candidate is doing crazy -- saying crazy things, he's doing crazy things.



LEMON: You don't think it's because of guy who's in office now has said very horrible things about reporters...



DENNARD: No.



LEMON: ... and has said that the reporters are the enemy of the American people?



DENNARD: No, Don. LEMON: That has nothing to do with anything? That people feel they



can get away with it? Because I don't believe that you actually believe that. There's no way you can't -- there's no way you believe what you're saying if you don't think that's true.



NAVARRO: He believes it.



DENNARD: Well, actually I didn't get a chance to say anything but I will tell you know what I think. And that is that what we have right now is a ground swelling of people who are not being respectful, who are not acting civil and people who are just saying things that are inappropriate and people are...



(CROSSTALK)



LEMON: Why do you think that is? After a country that is, you know, hundreds of years old, where we don't have incidents like this for the most part...



DENNARD: Well, I don't -- I don't -- I don't know.



LEMON: ... and all of a sudden we're having incidents like this now. You don't think -- you think it's just a coincidence?



DENNARD: No, I think if we go back and look at history, we can see that especially in this country, we have had a lot of instances of violence with politicians and people going back and forth.



But my point is this, Don, we have an issue going on right now where people think they can do anything with their fist and with their hands like this candidate did, and we have people who think they can say...



LEMON: OK.



DENNARD: ... anything that they want to as well. They are both wrong and we have to...



(CROSSTALK)



LEMON: And you don't -- you don't -- come on, Paris, you don't think it has anything to do with someone saying...



(CROSSTALK)



DENNARD: Don, if you're trying to make a connection or correlation between...



LEMON: I'm not trying. I'm telling you, I'm telling you I am. I'm not trying.



DENNARD: ... with that...



LEMON: I'm just saying I can't believe that you believe the words that are coming out of your mouth.



DENNARD: I do. LEMON: Because...



(CROSSTALK)



DENNARD: And you clearly don't understand the words that are coming out of my mouth.



LEMON: ... in most saying people -- I do understand. I don't think -- I know that you don't believe that.



DENNARD: Most Americans do not believe...



LEMON: You're obviously on television saying that because you feel that you have to defend everything about this particular person in office. If you actually sit there...



(CROSSTALK)



DENNARD: What particular person? What does Donald Trump have anything to do with what this candidate did? Let's hold this candidate responsible...



LEMON: Reporters, there are fake people back there, they're horrible people, they are enemy of the American people. If you think that doesn't have anything to do with it, then you're sadly, sadly mistaken, my friend. Good night, everyone.