Sarah Sanders: 'We can't confirm the validity' of Giuliani's statements

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders worked hard Thursday to distance the White House from extraordinary claims made by Trump’s new personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, during his recent whirlwind TV tour.

“We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today,” Giuliani claimed on “Fox & Friends.”

But when Reuters reporter Jeff Mason asked Sanders about that claim, she made it clear Giuliani was not to be listened to.

“We cannot confirm the validity of any of the reports currently out about their release,” she replied.

Mason followed up and asked, “In addition to being an attorney for the president does Mr. Giuliani — Mayor Giuliani have the wider remit to talk about things like foreign policy?”

Sanders answered, “Not that I’m aware of.”

CNN reported that “officials were still working to verify reports the three Americans had been moved from labor camps to a hotel in Pyongyang.” The outlet noted that the families of the prisoners have not received any new information about them.

When Giuliani appears on TV, he does so as the hand-selected lawyer for the sitting president, presumably speaking on Trump’s behalf. His statements have the weight of the presidency behind them, thanks to Trump. And they are seen around the world — including in North Korea, even as diplomats from multiple countries work to secure agreements on vital nuclear issues.

Yet according to the White House press secretary, Giuliani was simply freelancing. And she admitted she could not verify “the validity” of Giuliani’s claim.

Thursday’s press briefing suggested there are two competing camps: Giuliani and Trump working together on one hand, and the White House and related agencies on the other.

It is a recipe for massive dysfunction, played out in front of the entire world.