(CNN) Presidential impeachment defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz said Tuesday that while he disapproved of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo berating a reporter, "if he can help bring about peace in the Middle East, I'll forgive him his rudeness towards a reporter." The comments come following President Donald Trump's remarks at the unveiling of the Middle East plan on Tuesday, where the President praised Pompeo's behavior toward a National Public Radio reporter as "very impressive" and having done "a good job on her" as Dershowitz patted Pompeo on the back. When asked by CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin why he had patted Pompeo's back at that time, Dershowitz replied, "Because I like Mike Pomepo's views on the Middle East." Dershowitz first appeared to criticize Pompeo's actions and Trump's implicit endorsement, before attributing his own gesture to Pompeo's policy stance. "We're all tempted to do that, but I like Mike Pompeo's views on the Middle East and that's what I'm supportive" of.

Source: CNN January 29, 2020 03:53 UTC