A newspaper columnist stormed out of a live broadcast and left in anger after an angry exchange with two colleagues.
Washington Post contributing columnist Hugh Hewitt was discussing the election in a Publish live segment Friday morning with Jonathan Capehart and Ruth Marcus.
Capehart, the show’s host, mentioned a judge’s ruling to extend the deadline for mail-in voting in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about 20 minutes later.
Donald Trump’s campaign sued the county after voters lining up to request a mail-in ballot in person were turned away at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Washington Post contributing columnist Hugh Hewitt was discussing the election in a Post Live segment Friday morning with Jonathan Capehart and Ruth Marcus.
“Is it me or does it look like Donald Trump is laying the groundwork to contest the election?” Capehart asked Marcus.
“Claiming cheating was occurring, but suing Bucks County for alleged wrongdoing.”
Marcus agreed that the former president had been “laying the groundwork” to challenge the election result, if he lost, for months.
“Jonathan, I have to talk,” Hewitt intervened, but was told to let Marcus finish speaking first.
When it came his turn, Hewitt said he disagreed with framing the Bucks County ruling as an example of Trump trying to challenge the election result.
“The court overturned Bucks County and ordered them to open additional days because they violated the law and told people to go home,” he said.
‘We are news people, although we have opinions, and we have to report the whole story if we bring up part of the story.
“So yes, he is upset about Bucks County, but he was right and he won in court. That’s the story.’
An enraged Hewitt removed his headphones and declared: “I’m not coming back, Jonathan, I’m done.”
Election officials were supposed to allow everyone who joined the line before 5 p.m. to apply, even if they were still waiting at the cutoff.
Capehart attacked Hewitt out of the blue, instead of arguing his point or clarifying the matter.
“I don’t like being lectured about reporting when, Hugh, a lot of times you come in here saying a lot of things that aren’t based on facts,” he said.
Hewitt, enraged by the accusation, removed his headphones and declared: “I’m not coming back, Jonathan, I’m done.”
He disappeared from the split screen, leaving an empty chair, but continued to fume at the situation.
‘I’m done. This is the most unfair election ad I have ever participated in. You guys are working, it’s okay, I’m done,’ he was heard saying off-screen.
The New York Post reported that Hewitt not only left the show, but resigned from the newspaper entirely.
Hewitt also hosts a three-hour syndicated breakfast radio show.
He’s a staunch conservative with a Twitter account that endlessly shares and retweets pro-Trump talking points.
Hewitt with Kimberly Atkins as guests on Meet the Press in 2020
Judge Jeffrey Trauger ruled Wednesday in a one-page order that Bucks County voters who wanted to request an early mail-in ballot now had until the end of Friday.
Huge lines meant voters waited around three hours to enter the election office and submit their applications.
Bucks County, like other Pennsylvania counties, allows voters to request a mail-in ballot in person at the elections office and receive it there.
Applying is a time-consuming process that has been pushed to the limit by Trump’s exhortations to his supporters to get out and vote before Tuesday’s deadline.
Voters can also fill it out and return it to the office.
Neighboring Lehigh County requested that the window be extended until the end of Wednesday because it did not have enough resources, which was granted.
