Mr. Hopkins speaks quite plainly about what happened, and what was said. I don't think editing plays much of a part in his explanation that he felt coerced and bullied into retracting his claim, and now feels that he was "played". Now, one may accuse him of being a liar, sure. But that can't be blamed on editing.
He may have been coached or led to say he was coerced. This is the part that undermines the attempt at rehabilitation, if the allegation is he rancted because he was coerced, duped, confused, then perhaps he is suspectible to the same tactics used in the reverse manner, to get a rehabilitation statement.
How often did Hopkins speak PV about providing a rehabilitation statement? Who reached out to who? What was the nature of those conversations, any of them, off record? Was he made to feel bad by PV? Was he made to feel guilty about recanting by PV? What promises, if any, did PV make? Another GoFund to raise thousands for the assumed patriot and hero?
Forgive my incredulity at the moment, but if he truly is a sucker, susceptible to mind games that led him to recant, then it seems to me he is also a sucker, susceptible to mind games to recant his recantation.
The person who says he lied, to subsequently say he lied about lying, doesn’t strike me as trustworthy.
“Me?, I’m dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly!” Hopkins channeling his best of Jack Sparrow!
