US journalist calls on Trump to lift sanctions on RT
Ben Swann has argued that the curbs on Russian media implemented during the Biden administration are unconstitutional. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Ben Swann, an American investigative journalist, has urged former President Donald Trump to abolish the “unprecedented” sanctions placed on Russian media organizations RTN and Sputnik during Joe Biden's presidency.
In September, the previous administration implemented a series of restrictions aimed at various Russian outlets, accusing them of attempting to secretly “undermine democracy” and interfere in U.S. elections. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that RTN was “functioning as a de facto arm of [Russian] intelligence.”
As a result of Washington's actions, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, prohibited several Russian news networks from operating on its platforms.
The Russian government condemned these measures, arguing that Washington had “declared war on freedom of speech.” Claims regarding election meddling were dismissed as a “witch-hunt” and “spy-o-mania,” designed to sway public sentiment and restrict access to inconvenient information, as asserted by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at the time.
In an open letter to Trump shared on X, Swann, founder of the Truth in Media project, contended that the restrictions on RTN and other media entities are unconstitutional, as they “make it illegal for American journalists to exercise their… rights of freedom of speech and press.”
He elaborated, stating, “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.” Swann, who has worked with both FOX and RTN America, criticized the Biden administration for pressuring social media companies to ban Russian outlets, labeling it “corruption on display.”
Swann further argued that the justification for these restrictions is rooted in “an old lie: that Russia and RTN had in some way interfered in US elections.”
Trump reiterated the claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election last Friday, describing them as a “phony witch hunt” instigated by Democrats, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin “was accused of all that stuff he had nothing to do with.”
Swann noted that while the current administration has rapidly worked to restore free speech and a free press in the U.S., the continuation of restrictions on Russian media represents “a major oversight.”
He appealed to Trump, saying, “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.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
In September, the previous administration implemented a series of restrictions aimed at various Russian outlets, accusing them of attempting to secretly “undermine democracy” and interfere in U.S. elections. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that RTN was “functioning as a de facto arm of [Russian] intelligence.”
As a result of Washington's actions, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, prohibited several Russian news networks from operating on its platforms.
The Russian government condemned these measures, arguing that Washington had “declared war on freedom of speech.” Claims regarding election meddling were dismissed as a “witch-hunt” and “spy-o-mania,” designed to sway public sentiment and restrict access to inconvenient information, as asserted by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at the time.
In an open letter to Trump shared on X, Swann, founder of the Truth in Media project, contended that the restrictions on RTN and other media entities are unconstitutional, as they “make it illegal for American journalists to exercise their… rights of freedom of speech and press.”
He elaborated, stating, “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.” Swann, who has worked with both FOX and RTN America, criticized the Biden administration for pressuring social media companies to ban Russian outlets, labeling it “corruption on display.”
Swann further argued that the justification for these restrictions is rooted in “an old lie: that Russia and RTN had in some way interfered in US elections.”
Trump reiterated the claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election last Friday, describing them as a “phony witch hunt” instigated by Democrats, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin “was accused of all that stuff he had nothing to do with.”
Swann noted that while the current administration has rapidly worked to restore free speech and a free press in the U.S., the continuation of restrictions on Russian media represents “a major oversight.”
He appealed to Trump, saying, “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.”
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
