Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) led 14 of his House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, and CNN demanding answers regarding reports that freelance photojournalists associated with these organizations were present at the scene of Hamas’ deadly terrorist attack on Israel.

 

The lawmakers raise serious concerns about the presence of six photojournalists at the scene of Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7th:

 

 “Their early morning presence at the breached border raises serious ethical questions about whether they had advance knowledge of Hamas’ plan and not only failed to alert authorities, but even joined the attackers, as evidenced by photographs purportedly showing a photojournalist wielding weapons alongside terrorists. This potentially implicates them as accomplices in war crimes and crimes against humanity in violation of international law and human rights conventions.”

 

“I’m appalled by reports that identify the presence of six photojournalists at the scene of Iran-backed Hamas terrorists' barbaric Oct. 7th attack on Israel,” said Clyde. “The media organizations associated with these photojournalists must provide Congress with critical information related to this troubling matter. Failure to do so will not only raise additional ethical and national security concerns but also shamelessly signal the organizations’ acceptance of complicity in Hamas’ brutal war crimes.”

 

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

 

Read the Washington Examiner’s exclusive on Rep. Clyde’s letter HERE.

 

Co-signers include Representatives Mark Alford (MO-04), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Ben Cline (VA-06), Eli Crane (AZ-02), Russell Fry (SC-07), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Mary Miller (IL-15), Alex Mooney (WV-02), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Greg Steube (FL-17), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Ryan Zinke (MT-01).

 

Supporting organizations include the Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET), FDD Action, and Zionist Organization of America (ZOA). 

 

“The American people have a right to know if news organizations they are asked to trust as reliable sources of information are actually complicit in a terrorist organization’s propaganda. There are concerns this may be the case. FDD Action supports this important and timely congressional letter, which seeks additional information from media organizations about their contracted photojournalists’ alleged coordination with Hamas terrorists during the October 7 massacre of innocent civilians in Israel. This letter requests records of any transactions or communications between the photojournalists and Hamas members, details regarding their assignments and movements on the day of the attack, and actions being taken internally to investigate the allegations. Congress should continue to take all necessary and proper actions to hold these organizations and the individuals they employed accountable for any complicity in the war crimes of October 7, 2023,” stated FDD Action.

 

“CNN, Reuters, the Associated Press, and The New York Times have been guilty in the past of hiring supposedly independent journalists and photographers who have turned out to be linked to terrorists. We know in the videos from the attacks taken by the terrorists themselves that at least one of these photographers was carrying a hand grenade on the morning of the attack. Israel's Government Press Office has already concluded that, ‘These media people are complicit in crimes against humanity.’ It is fully appropriate for members of Congress to demand answers from these media organizations, and ZOA strongly commends Rep. Clyde for his leadership on this issue,” said Morton Klein, National President of ZOA.

 

“EMET wholeheartedly endorses this initiative. There was once a time when journalists and photojournalists took extra efforts to make sure that their writing and photography was objective, and not compromised by any affiliation to any sort of group. The possibility that photojournalists had known in advance, and that they might be affiliated with Hamas; had posed for pictures with these Hamas monsters, and had collaborated with them in this act of pure, unadulterated evil is simply beyond the pale. There should be an immediate investigation of these photojournalists, and if any of these allegations are true, they should be rapidly dismissed and must face the consequences for the crime of collaborating in these horrific atrocities” stated EMET.