On Monday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Wolf,” Clinton campaign Press Secretary Brian Fallon stated that Clinton’s pneumonia is “not contagious” according to her doctors, Campaign Manager Robby Mook “was probably contagious at a couple of points,” and “regardless of whether the video surfaced or not, in the aftermath of that event yesterday, I think we would made the same decision…to disclose that she had been diagnosed with the pneumonia on Friday.”
When asked if it would have been better to disclose Clinton had pneumonia on Friday, Fallon responded, “Well, look, Wolf, I think that it was her intent to press on. and not let pneumonia –.”
Anchor Wolf Blitzer then cut in, “But don’t you think the American public, Brian had a right to know that she had pneumonia?”
Fallon responded, “Well, as soon as yesterday happened, Wolf, and her doctor visited her again, and confirmed that what caused her to have to leave the event early on Sunday was related to the pneumonia and the dehydration. At that point, we did make the decision to change the schedule, and we put out a statement in the doctor’s name indicating the condition that she was in, and was fully disclosing the nature of the pneumonia that she was diagnosed with, but as of Friday, when she was diagnosed with it again, she was treating it, she had been dealing with allergies for several days before that, and had kept up a campaign schedule, even as she had been prone to having a couple occasions where she would be coughing during speeches. She was pressing on even then. And so, it was her intent on Friday to treat it just the same and continue to press on. Obviously, on Sunday, that situation changed, and now she’s taking a couple days off the trail.”
Fallon was also asked, “If we would have never seen that video, would you have told the American public that she had pneumonia?”
He answered, “I think that, Wolf, the video was not necessary to providing that information, because, as it was, she left the event early. We were already being pressed to explain why she left early, and it took us a bit to get that information together to release a statement, and in retrospect, I think, we should have provided more information more quickly. But yes, I think, regardless of whether the video surfaced or not, in the aftermath of that event yesterday, I think we would made the same decision to have her rest these next couple days, and to disclose that she had been diagnosed with the pneumonia on Friday.”
Fallon later stated that, “She is not contagious, she’s been told by her doctors. So, she was playing with her grandkids yesterday, and they don’t have anything to worry about, because she’s not contagious at this point, according to her doctor. And just, let me state for the record, what I have is a very mild case of, I don’t even think it’s pneumonia, Wolf. I’m just fine, and I’m happy to be here at work.”
He added that Campaign Manager Robby Mook is also feeling better, and “was probably contagious at a couple points, but the rest of us just have to deal with that.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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