CNN is hosting a town hall with former President Trump, a decision that has sparked controversy around media coverage of the former president. The debate around appropriate coverage of Trump is given added significance in the wake of his fictional claims of election fraud in 2020, his conduct in and around Jan. 6, 2021, his recent criminal indictment in Manhattan and the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case.

Grant Reeher, professor of political science, says he would be “stunned” if CNN did not offer significant fact-checking of Trump, whether in a dedicated segment, in a post-town hall panel discussion or from CNN anchor and moderator Kaitlin Collins herself.

But Reeher also defends the nature of the event. Trump “is a former president. He is, whether we like it or not, a legitimate candidate for the nomination. So I think it is entirely appropriate to host a town hall,” he says.