[x]

Stephanopoulos is NOT defending Hillary Clinton. The fact this topic is even ON THE SHOW is intended to harm Hillary.

Sometimes a story gets big enough that the audience at least expects the show to mention it. George's audience is mostly people who have some interest in politics and if he simply ignored the story they'd wonder why he didn't even mention it. His show's audience is different from, say, that of the CBS Evening News, which didn't even bring up the foundation scandal at all.

[Lazamataz]

There's a way to do it, then there's a way to do it. Let us concede your point, he HAD to do this story. But inviting hard guests and making it drag on for some time, instead of a quick little mention and dismissively calling it 'old news' and moving to the next topic?

No, George switched sides.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“George’s audience is mostly people who have some interest in politics and if he simply ignored the story they’d wonder why he didn’t even mention it.”

It’s also possible that he thought he could neutralize it.