Attorney General Ashley Moody, along with a coalition of attorneys general, has issued a warning to several media companies regarding possible ties to foreign terrorist organizations. The publishers of the New York Times, the CEOs of the Associated Press and CNN, and the president of Reuters have all been reminded that providing material support to terrorists and terror organizations is a crime. This comes in response to reports suggesting that individuals hired by these outlets have troubling connections to Hamas.
In a statement, Attorney General Moody expressed concern over the reports and the need for media companies to comply with federal and state laws. She said, "Following the abhorrent Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, reports began to emerge of news organizations employing people embedded within Hamas and potentially with knowledge of the attack before it was carried out. I, along with 13 other attorneys general, are putting the media companies on notice: ensure that you are following federal and state law."
The coalition of attorneys general sent a letter to the media companies, urging them to review their hiring practices and make necessary changes to avoid providing material support to terrorists. The letter states, "If your outlet's current hiring practices led you to give material support to terrorists, you must change these policies going forward. Otherwise, we must assume any future support of terrorist organizations by your stringers, correspondents, contractors, and similar employees is knowing behavior."
The letter also references a recent bipartisan congressional letter to Reuters, which raises questions about prior knowledge of the attack and possible contact between a Reuters journalist and Hamas or its agents before the incident.
Attorney General Moody was joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia in sending the letter. This collective effort highlights the seriousness of the issue and the determination to hold media companies accountable for their actions.
The full letter can be accessed for further reference.
By addressing these concerns, the Attorney General and the coalition of attorneys general aim to ensure that media companies operate in compliance with the law and do not inadvertently support terrorist organizations. This united effort serves as a warning to media outlets and emphasizes the importance of upholding the integrity of the news industry in the fight against terrorism.
Click this link to access more information: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/attorney-general-moody-and-coalition-attorneys-general-put-media-companies-notice