A former FBI and CIA official broke down in sobs on CNN Wednesday while discussing the fatal high school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
The official, Philip Mudd, became tearful as he spoke to anchor Wolf Blitzer about the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people.
“I have 1o nieces and nephews who are talking about bump-stocks, who are talking about legislation,” Mudd said, referring to a device that allows for rapid fire on semi-automatic rifles. “A child of God is dead.”
“Cannot we acknowledge in this country,” Mudd said as his voice cracked, “that we… we cannot accept this.”
He fought back tears but then bowed and shook his head.
“I can’t do it, Wolf,” Mudd said. “I’m sorry. We can’t do it.”
The camera cut away moments later.
CNN contributor Philip Mudd breaks down in tears discussing the Florida shooting pic.twitter.com/oKCMgMWxDP
— David Mack (@davidmackau) February 14, 2018
Viewers responded with comments about the power of the moment, many saying they felt the same way Mudd did after news came of the 18th school shooting this year.
Philip Mudd (Former CIA/FBI) is one of the sternest straight forward guys Ive seen on TV and seeing him visibly break down over these shootings is how I imagine many parents are feeling nowadays … so hopeless that our government will do NOTHING……nothing to try and fix it
— Big Mic (@BigMicRadio) February 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/frothybrownpool/status/963942785199075330
Bless you Philip Mudd. @CNN
— Dr. Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) February 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/suddenleigh/status/963906826646499330
We're all Philip Mudd. #CNN
— Littleb 🐝 (@Littleb10) February 14, 2018
Mudd worked for the CIA starting in 1985, then at the White House in the early 2000s and as an FBI official from 2005 to 2010, according to his website. He returned to the air on CNN later Wednesday to give commentary about the suspected shooter.
H/T BuzzFeed News