Sanctions imposed by Washington against RT and Sputnik have been detrimental to American citizens, Ben Swann has argued
The former head of RT America, Ben Swann, has called on US President Donald Trump to drop restrictions imposed against several Russian media outlets, including RT and Sputnik. Set under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, the “unprecedented” sanctions were nothing but “corruption on display,” the investigative journalist and producer argued.
Swann worked as a news anchor on American television as well as a TV sports producer and managing editor at various media outlets. He had previously headed all of RT’s operations in the US, being in charge of the broadcaster’s office in the country and all of the shows produced by RT America. The journalist also founded the Truth in Media project. Before joining RT, Swann also worked for several Fox affiliates.
The journalist published an open letter addressing Trump on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday:
Open Letter To President Trump, Time to End the Biden- Era Sanctions Against RT and American Journalists
President Donald J. Trump,
In his speech to European leaders only days ago, your Vice President JD Vance stated plainly, “In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town. And… pic.twitter.com/6Enh43Caan
In his speech to European leaders only days ago, your Vice President JD Vance stated plainly, “In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town. And under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer in the public square. Agree or disagree?”
Mr. President, the first 30 days of your current administration have moved at warp speed. In that time you have quickly re-established American principles of free speech and a free press, upheld through Executive Orders as well as clarified positions by your Department of Justice and State Department.
There is a major oversight taking place however, when it comes to freedom of speech and freedom of press. A major sanction in the last few months of the Biden State Department remains in place and directly violates both of those Constitutionally protected American freedoms.
On Sept. 13, 2024, under the direction of Antony Blinken, the Biden State Department placed unprecedented sanctions on the Russian news organization RT, with whom my company contracts to produce fair, factual, and honest news and opinion programming.
The excuse used to place our work under sanction was based on an old lie: that Russia and RT had in some way interfered in U.S. elections. This move is unprecedented, as no U.S. administration has ever banned, blocked or sanctioned a news organization. The Biden Administration through the Treasury Department placed financial sanctions against RT and TV Novosti, thereby making it illegal for American journalists to exercise their Constitutionally protected rights of freedom of speech and press.
The journalists targeted by these sanctions are American citizens. Not only did they lose their jobs, but also the opportunity to share factual reporting with an audience of over 800 million people across the globe. The bullying of social media companies by the Biden Administration was corruption on display, however, by outright banning a news organization what the Biden Administration has done is violation of Constitutional law.
We ask you to drop all sanctions against RT, Sputnik and TV Novosti and allow the public square to remain free for all voices, all journalists and all points of view.
