Sheriff-do-no-wrong interviewed by Tapper-amirite. Sheriff says investigation ongoing and maybe somebody other than Deputy Peterson (and y’all agree he’s so bad) didn’t do something right, but not gonna speculate (except about Peterson who is just so bad, obv). Mostly the problem is the law, the NRA, we gotta focus on the other stuff, don’t worry, Imma gonna do a great job with the investigation of the officers. Amirite interjects at each step with “but is that true?” and looks confused, suggests bigger problems in the department.
Highlights:
Sheriff lays blame on Deputy Peterson at school for not going in. Says investigations ongoing of other officers who arrived at the scene, who haven’t been interview yet, but important to know shooting was over by the time they arrived (even though as Jake Tapper noted, they didn’t know that at the time).
Sheriff invokes Peterson’s numerous times when Tapper challenges him about other police failings - seemingly to demonstrate his strong leadership and putting blame mostly on that Deputy. Sheriff speculates about what Peterson was thinking, but avoids doing so on other officers.
Tapper challenged the sheriff for attacking the NRA at the town hall meeting when he knew about Peterson and other failings by the police department.
Tapper brings up the multiple calls made against Cruz. Sheriff says times where Cruz made statements about wanting to do a school shooting didn’t amount to a crime. The Sheriff’s answer didn’t explain that very well and said it was because Cruz didn’t have the means of carrying out a shooting. Tapper questions that.
The Sheriff says any failings aren’t his failings, that he is going to take action on those who failed. Tapper calls him out for failing to take responsibility. When sheriff says he has given “amazing leadership” Tapper repeats those words and leans back with his confused expression.
Tapper challenges about program where school doesn’t have to report issues to police department, suggested that officers might have been aware but did nothing. Sheriff says its great program, that bullets in backpack and threats of violence should have been reported.