1 month ago
New York Times executive editor accused nan Trump management of trying to “criminalize regular reporting,” arsenic nan publication reported that 1 of its journalists was investigated by nan FBI.
The Times reported connected Wednesday that Elizabeth Williamson was nan target of an investigation into whether she collapsed national stalking laws arsenic she reported connected FBI Director Kash Patel‘s usage of authorities resources for information and proscription for his girlfriend.
Executive editor Joe Kahn said, “The FBI’s effort to criminalize regular reporting is simply a blatant usurpation of Elizabeth’s First Amendment authorities and different effort by this management to forestall journalists from scrutinizing its actions. It’s alarming. It’s unconstitutional. And it’s wrong.” Per CNN, Kahn besides wrote successful an soul memo, We person nary logic to judge that this is simply a wide practice, but it marks an escalation of strategies to chill and intimidate reporters who uncover accusation that’s unflattering to nan administration.”
Per the Times, agents interviewed Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, queried databases astir Williamson and recommended moving guardant connected nan investigation. Ultimately, though, nan Justice Department decided that location was nary ineligible ground to prosecute charges, per nan Times.
Appearing connected Fox News connected Wednesday, Patel said “this aforesaid newsman delivered a baseless communicative which caused a nonstop threat of life to my girlfriend. And that’s not maine saying that. This individual has been charged, arrested and is successful court. And he said, arsenic a nonstop consequence of The New York Times reporting, he wanted to return a firearm and canoe my girlfriend’s face. We are going to protect not only maine and my loved ones, but each American that is threatened.”
In a connection provided to nan Times, an FBI spokesperson said, “Ms. Wilkins was interviewed by FBI agents successful narration to a decease threat successful Boston, which specifically referenced an article published by Williamson nan erstwhile day. During this questioning, nan agents inquired astir nan related reporting. While investigators were concerned astir really nan fierce reporting techniques crossed lines of stalking, nary further action regarding Williamson aliases nan reporting was ever pursued by nan FBI.”
Patel revenge a $250 cardinal defamation suit against The Atlantic earlier this week aft nan media outlet published a communicative connected his “erratic” tenure, including reports that he drank to excess. Patel has denied nan report, but The Atlantic has stood by its story.
Seth Stern, main of defense for nan Freedom of nan Press Foundation, said successful a statement, “If Kash Patel was looking to disprove Williamson’s reporting astir him utilizing authorities resources for individual matters, siccing his agency connected a newsman for retribution is simply a very unusual way of doing it. You know the FBI is off the rails if moreover lawyers successful Trump’s Department of Justice had to warn them that their retaliatory investigation lacked ineligible merit.”
