CNN Statement Makes Clear Scott Jennings' Mitch McConnell Claim Is Not Network's 'Reporting'

Source: MEDIAite

Jul 10th, 2026, 5:17 pm


CNN moved Friday to clarify that Scott Jennings’ claims about Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) health and his account of speaking with the Republican lawmaker do “not” constitute its own reporting.

McConnell was taken to the hospital on June 14, and with his office offering little information in public statements, speculation began to grow online about the senator’s health, including claims pushed online by MAGA activist Laura Loomer that he was “brain dead.” As questions continue to swirl over McConnell’s condition following his hospitalization nearly a month ago, CNN, like other major networks, covered the intrigue.

That’s when Jennings, a longtime McConnell ally who once ran political operations for his Senate campaigns, claimed on Tuesday he had spoken with the hospitalized 84-year-old senator by phone for “17-minutes.” Following that, several top Republicans also said they’d had calls with McConnell. However, in a statement to The Daily Beast, a CNN spokesperson clarified that the network’s reporters have not independently verified Jennings’ account and distanced the claims from its own reporting:

As a CNN Political Commentator, Scott Jennings is not a full-time employee or journalist for the network. His account of a personal conversation with Senator McConnell reflects his experience and is not CNN reporting.