The Biden administration is demanding that Fox News retract an article about corruption allegations against the Biden family.
White House Press Secretary Ian Sams sent a letter to Fox News executives It claimed the news network promoted “false and discredited” bribery allegations involving President Joe Biden.
Sams is referring to allegations that Alexander Smirnov brought to the FBI several years ago, which are part of a controversial series of allegations. FD-1023 Document — alleges that Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid Biden and his son Hunter Biden $5 million each in 2015 or 2016. Last month, Special Counsel David Weiss said: secured an indictment against Smirnova former FBI confidential source, who allegedly lied about these claims.
Mr. Sams complained that Fox News had “taken no steps to retract, correct, or update the report” on the simple basis that Mr. Weiss had made the accusations against Mr. Smirnov.
he wrote:
We feel strongly that all Fox News Digital articles on this topic should, at a minimum, be updated with an editor’s note informing readers that the source of this allegation is a fabricated federal indictment. . Also, television personalities, especially on Fox News Channel like Hannity and Watters, should inform viewers on air that they are sharing unreliable claims from sources who have been indicted by the federal government for fabricating them. We strongly feel that there is.
There are many problems with Sams’ argument.
First, in all of the articles Sams cited, Fox News never reported Smirnov’s claims as proven fact. This is an important difference. FOX News is reporting on this allegation, exactly as it sounds, as an “unproven allegation.”
Second, Sams is said to be doing exactly what he claims Fox News is doing.
Sams presumes that the accusations against Smirnov are true, so he assumes that Smirnov is guilty despite the defendant’s presumption of innocence. Sams does this by asserting as a matter of fact that the allegations that Smirnov raised with the FBI about the Bidens are “false.” However, Smirnov has not yet met a jury of his peers, and prosecutors have not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Smirnov lied.
Therefore, Smirnov’s claims are both claims, Weiss’s claims are claims, and reporting on mere claims is not a journalistic violation.
For its part, Fox News has no plans to comply with Sams’ request, sources said. Said CNN.
In a formal statement, Fox News acknowledged Mr. Smirnov’s allegations and its report on the conflict with Mr. Weiss, and vowed that the station would continue reporting.
“Fox News Media has covered this story prominently, covering all major developments since the announcement that Alexander Smirnov has been charged with lying to the FBI,” the statement said. Said. “We will continue to report on developments in all aspects of the ongoing investigation, hearings and trial.”
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