Mika Brzezinski Mugged In Washington

"Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski was mugged outside her Washington, D.C. hotel Thursday morning, her co-host Joe Scarborough announced on their program. The Washington Times' Christina Bellantoni writes about the announcement, which Scarborough delivered while Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty guested on the program:

As the show began, Mr. Scarborough blasted Washington without naming the hotel, saying he needed to talk about what had just happened to his co-host.

Mrs. Brzezinski said she was embarrassed and didn't want him to tell viewers about the experience, but he detailed the mugging and complained the bell desk should have been paying attention.

"A guy walks across the street straight for her," Mr. Scarborough said, adding the hotel should "at least police five feet outside their own doors." Mrs. Brzezinski said she gave the mugger the $6 in cash she had with her, adding that he asked her for $20 and said something along the lines of "Give me money and nothing will happen."

Mr. Fenty, brought on the show to talk about education and plans for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, told the hosts the matter would be investigated.

"This is what mayors do," he said. "We are going to look at it and work with the hotel and the police department."

"Mayor it was six dollars, it's OK," Mrs. Brzezinski told Mr. Fenty. "I love that hotel. I'll need six dollars before I leave the bureau is all."

Watch Joe and Mika's retelling of the incident:

Watch the full segment with DC mayor Adrian Fenty:

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Comments

[StillAmused]

"Mugging" is what the woman does for the camera.

After all the handwringing on that set, often over the most tepid non-issues of the day, it's a wonder they don't have to send in a team of orthopedic surgeons to check for broken fingers.

[SuesW]

She asked him not to say anything and he completely ignored her and told the story anyway. That's not nice but it is keeping in how he treats her - and how she let's him treat her.

And I agree with many others here, that's not exactly a mugging. It is a bit embarrassing to tell people - doesn't make her look good and it doesn't make Joe look good either. So basically just another day on the set of Morning Joe.

[DeeW]

Rolling my eyes.

First, she asked him not to talk about it and being the stand up guy he is ... he ignores her wishes and talks about it.

And ... that's not really a mugging.

[nana4g]

It is just so ridiculous the way these tv talk show hosts get so bent out of shape over so many nothings. The networks of whiners. Campbell Brown screams and whines, Joe Scarbrough, the whole lot of them. They are all gossip columnists now, too.

Chris Matthews created a story about Bill Clinton taking Hillary's seat; no one else was talking about it but him, and he repeated it the other day when he was so bent out of shape because Caroline Kennedy is interested in it. Questioning her qualifications; what are his for the seat in Pa?

They have all become one big JOKE.

[bygollymissmolly]

A guy walks up to her and asks her for $20 and that's a "mugging". Give me a break.

[the964kid]

Welcome to DC...

[kolorkin]

I am very glad she is safe and sound.

I only wish all "muggings" get this much air time.

[dissanayake]

I think she's too cute. Hate to hear that Joe Scarberough bully her on the show, This women is bright and well bred, unlike Mr "When I was in Congress" Scarberough, If it wasnt for her personality balancing Joes endless tirades, this show wouldnt fly,

[Wolf Larsen]

Mika is living proof that in some cases the apple falls far from the tree.....

You tried Zbigniew....

[LMPE]

I've never watched that show. The only way that I remember Mika Brzezinski is when she interviewed Bikram Choudhury on "60 Minutes II".

[Bitsko]

Mr. Scarborough is right -- media elites aren't supposed to be involved with the real world and real people!

[kndam72]

she has been mugging us with her vapid commentary every morning for a while now

[bearhat]

Some have characterized Ms. Brzezinski as "weak" and "unable to hold her own"; furthermore, others have said Mr. Scarborough was in the wrong for bringing up the matter. If anyone, whether they be labeled a "panhandler" or a "mugger", says "give me money and nothing will happen", that is an overt statement indicating intent to commit a crime. Examine the statement. The mugger implied that if she did not give him money, then he would hurt her: ". . . and nothing will happen."

It's the same as if someone approached you and said "Give me $20 or I'll probably stab you to death". What would be your reaction? Would you, as another poster indicated, scream and most likely die for $20 or $6?

As for Joe, he and plenty of other people know that D.C. is one of the most crime-infested places in the entire country. If the criminals aren't on the street, they're in the Capitol. Sure, you may be an extremist partisan and decry his right to be angry that this happened to his co-host and friend because you don't like Republicans, but don't say he has no right to be angry. As Americans, we should all be furious about domestic crime and discuss the reasons why it happens and how to correct it. It's unpatriotic to attack Joe Scarborough for being angry that Mika got mugged.

[zbjordan23]

how is that a "mugging"...lol

[Wolf Larsen]

It was probably a cabby trying to collect his fare......

[truelie]

She's just a whipping girl for Scarborough. She has no say in anything. It's disappointing. If you're on the air, say something of substance.

[LindaLeigh]

I guess you haven't watched the show in the past week. Mika has gotten a lot stronger in her opinions and the Ambein and mommy jokes are gone. They still seem to have a good time but Joe stopped saying the things some think is degrading to her. Its nice that Mika is standing up for herself more. Try the show again. I think you'll see a big difference.

[VOTER]

No difference at all.

[IowaKid]

Sorry I disagree. I have been turned off the Morning Joe show for a long time now. I try to tune in from time to time but withing 5 minutes of listening to Joe's morning rant I turn the station.