Wallace did not ask Cornyn about NRSC subpoena

Written by Kate Conway

Published

Chris Wallace interviewed Sen. John Cornyn without asking about a subpoena reportedly issued to the National Republican Senatorial Committee by a federal grand jury examining allegations that Sen. John Ensign attempted to secure lobbying work in connection with an extramarital affair. Cornyn currently serves as chairman of the NRSC, a fact Wallace highlighted while avoiding mention of the subpoena.

Wallace failed to discuss reported subpoena of Cornyn's committee

NRSC subpoenaed in investigation surrounding former chairman John Ensign. A March 18 Associated Press article reported, “A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to a Republican campaign committee and companies in Nevada in a probe of Sen. John Ensign, who has been under scrutiny for his efforts to find lobbying work for the husband of his former mistress.” The article continued:

One subpoena went to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which was formerly chaired by Ensign, a Nevada Republican, committee spokesman Brian Walsh said Thursday.

Sean Cairncross, general counsel for the group that is the campaign committee for Republican Senate candidates, said the committee has responded appropriately to questions concerning matters related to the time frame of the 2008 election campaign.

Wallace ignores NRSC's reported subpoena while interviewing NRSC chairman. On the March 21 edition of Fox News Sunday, Wallace hosted Cornyn, and while Fox identified Cornyn as the head of the NRSC, he failed to ask about the NRSC's recent federal grand jury subpoena. Wallace did ask Cornyn whether he intends to make a “pledge to repeal” health care reform a major element of Republicans' 2010 campaigns.