(Dmytro “Henry” Aleksandrov, Headline USA) The White House press office warned a black journalist from Africa that he may lose his pass to the complex if he won’t stop his “frequent interruptions,” in what many perceived as a either racial insult or an attempt to shut down uncomfortable questions about the Joe Biden regime.
Simon Ateba, a reporter for Today News Africa, shared the text and screenshots of the official letter from the White House press suppressors with his Twitter followers. The unsigned document laid out multiple instances when Ateba was doing his job by trying to ask questions during press briefings.
“The White House recognizes that members of the press often raise their voices or shout questions at press briefings or events. Ordinarily, such shouting stops when a reporter is called on for a question, and the briefing or event is able to continue,” the letter stated.
“Continued interruptions are different; they prevent journalists from asking questions or administration officials and guests from responding. The Press Secretary’s only option in response to such disruptions is to stop the briefing or event, which is to the detriment of all journalists.”
Journalists outside the fake news realm blasted the White House for trying to silence any critical questioning of the Biden administration as it struggles through multiple scandals and investigations.
“The WaPo is working w/ the Biden Admin to silence the only independent African reporter in the W.H. press poll,” accused journalist Tom Elliott.
“This kind of thing used to be a an attack on the first amendment and press freedoms,” The Spectator’s Stephen L. Miller tweeted. “It unified journalists against an authoritarian administration. Democracy is dying a little bit today.”
Driving home that accusation, the warning letter to Ateba stated, “If you continue to impede briefings or events by shouting over your colleagues who have been called on for a question, even after you have been asked to stop by a White House employee, then your hard pass may be suspended or revoked, following notice and an opportunity to respond.”
If WaPo reporters (cc @yabutaleb7 & @farhip) had principles and/or a backbone, they would foresake their chance to ask the @PressSec a question until she calls on @simonateba. They don’t do that b/c they want to ensure the W.H. briefing room remains a journalism-free zone
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) July 12, 2023
Social media was quick to point out the double standard applied to Ateba and other loudmouthed, disruptive reporters with decidedly leftist bents. Special note was given to former CNN activist Brian Karem, who was praised for verbally assaulting a Trump-era press secretary who dared to note that CNN had to retract a story on the bogus Russia collusion hoax.
We're going to watch an absolute CLINIC in double standards.
— Blair "Coke Zero” McKee (@BlairDMckee) July 12, 2023
“Coordinated vicious attacks against me to assassinate my character and silence me remind me of the law of unintended consequences,” Ateba wrote in his Wednesday tweet, using as examples Ancient Rome, 19th century India, the 18th Amendment in the Constitution of the United States and the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Headline USA’s Mark Pellin contributed to this report
