EU Lawmakers Want To Sanction Tucker Carlson Over Putin Interview
In 1941, American journalist Pierre Huss interviewed German dictator Adolph Hitler in German-occupied Russia as part of a reporting staff orchestrated by CBS News' Edward R. Murrow. He won the George Polk award in 1951 for war time reporting, and was honored by the NY Times in a 1966 obituary.
In 1941 war correspondent Pierre Huss Interviewed Hitler in German occupied Russia for the International News Service, a team assembled by CBS news’ Edward Murrow pic.twitter.com/s4OPHQ3gPN
— The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) February 6, 2024
Nearly 80 years later, EU lawmakers want to sanction Tucker Carlson for his upcoming interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian Prime Minister and current member of the European Parliament who has called for the EU to impose a "travel ban" on the former Fox News host, told Newsweek that Carlson is nothing more than a "mouthpiece" for former President Donald Trump and Putin.
Tucker Carlson is surely on the path to being labelled a propagandist for the Russian regime.
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) February 5, 2024
If he enables disinformation for Putin, the EU should explore a travel ban ! pic.twitter.com/RKwEtvg0pR
"As Putin is a war criminal and the EU sanctions all who assist him in that effort, it seems logical that the External Action Service examine his case as well," he said.
The real journalists in Russia are in jail or had to flee !
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) February 7, 2024
Carlson is Putin’s mouthpiece and an enemy of everything the US stands for — no more, no less.https://t.co/Nu58d6mnXD
Former MEP Luis Gariocano told Newsweek that he agrees with Verhofstadt.
"He is no longer a newsman, but a propagandist for the most heinous regime on European soil and the one which is most dangerous to our peace and security," he said of Carlson.
MEP Urmas Paet, who was previously Estonia's foreign minister, told the outlet: "First of all, it should be remembered that Putin is not just a president of an aggressor country, but he is wanted by the International Criminal Court and accused of genocide and war crimes," adding "Carlson wants to give a platform to someone accused of crimes of genocide—this is wrong. If Putin has something to say he needs to say it in front of the ICC. At the same time Carlson is not being a real journalist since he has clearly expressed his sympathy for the Russian regime and Putin and has constantly disparaged Ukraine, the victim of Russian aggression."
"So, for such propaganda for a criminal regime, you can end up on the list of sanctions. This concerns primarily travel ban to EU countries."
Carlson explained on Tuesday that he's interviewing Putin because "Most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now," adding "We are not here because we love Vladimir Putin....We are not encouraging you to agree with what Putin may say in this interview, but we are urging you to watch it. You should know as much as you can."
According to a Telegram channel believed to be run by Kremlin reporters, Tucker's interview may be released Thursday in the late afternoon, EST.
Carlson is the first to formally interview Putin since October 2021, when CNBC’s Hadley Gamble sat down exclusively with him, according to Reuters via The Indian Express.
Earlier that year, NBC News senior international correspondent Kiers Simmons sat down with Putin for a June 11, 2021 exclusive interview.
The Associated Press also interviewed Putin on September 3, 2013.
And one more thing, in 1997, four years before the 9/11 attacks, CNN interviewed Al-Qaeda terrorist Osama bin Laden inside of a cave in Afghanistan.
How odd:
