Elisabeth Hasselbeck, co-host of the "Fox & Friends" weekday morning news show, is under fire after comments she made regarding the controversial traffic stop that lead to Sandra Bland's arrest, the Wrap reported. Bland's death, while in police custody following her arrest, has sparked outrage across the country and started a debate on the whether her arrest was justified.
During the segment, Hasselbeck interviewed former New York City Police Department Officer John Rafferty and they analyzed the dashboard camera footage that captured the events that transpired and led to Bland's July 10 arrest.
In the footage, Texas State Trooper Brian Encinia pulled Bland over for a routine traffic stop after she failed to signal while switching lanes. The encounter quickly escalated when Bland refused to put out her cigarette, at Encinia's request.
"It appears, looking at this, because she didn't put out the cigarette, next thing he knows, he's asking the person to step out of the vehicle," Rafferty said. "You can't take it personal. It's the job."
"But what if, I mean, there are times, I'm sure, someone has, in the history of this land, used a cigarette against a police officer," Hasselbeck said. "Maybe chucked it at him, pushed it at him. If he indeed felt it could be a potential threat, was that the wise thing to do on his part?"
Viewers reacted to Hasselbeck's comment on Twitter and accused her of implying that Bland might have used the cigarette as a weapon against Encinia. She responded with her own Tweet to clarify her statement.
"I NEVER suggested Sandra Bland could have used a cigarette as a weapon," Hasselbeck wrote. "I asked whether it was wise to ask her to put it out. #StopTheLies"
See her full tweet and watch a clip from the "Fox & Friends" segment below.
I NEVER suggested Sandra Bland could have used a cigarette as a weapon. I asked whether it was wise to ask her to put it out. #StopTheLies
— elisabeth hasselbeck (@ehasselbeck) July 28, 2015
