Zimmerman’s Botched Interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters

Veteran interviewer says murder suspect made demands network could not meet

George Zimmerman tried to call in to ABC veteran newswoman Barbara Walter’s show on Thursday, after reportedly botching an arranged interview in Florida, the Miami Herald reports.

Walters told viewers of Thursday morning’s “The View” that she flew to Florida to do the interview with Zimmerman, the man charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, but he showed up unprepared.

Walters said Zimmerman was “dressed in a t-shirt and made demands the network could not meet.” The former neighborhood watch captain asked for month’s stay in a hotel, and “seemed desperate for money and concerned about his family,” Walters added.

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From the Herald’s story:

Walters -- with Zimmerman and his attorney holding on another line -- politely told Zimmerman that she didn’t think an on-the-spot interview was a good idea.

"Mr. Zimmerman, if you could not do the interview yesterday, I don’t think we should do a quick one today," she said. "In the future if you feel differently, we will consider it.”

Walter’s revelation comes the morning after Zimmerman and his attorney, Mark O’Mara, sat down with Fox News’ right-leaning news personality Sean Hannity.

A re-launched website to rehabilitate Zimmerman’s image, therealgeorgezimmerman.com, was accessible shortly after the Fox News interview aired.

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