Saturday, December 10, 2016

Glenn Beck Pulls Researcher From Iraq For Shooting at ISIS

A former Marine is suspended from working in the field for media outlet TheBlaze after he posted a photo of himself on Twitter purportedly shooting a rifle at Islamic State (ISIS) militants.

Jason Buttrill is the chief researcher for the Glenn Beck-owned network. He was embedded with Iraqi troops this week as they fight to take back the city of Mosul from ISIS' grip.

The Hill reported Friday evening, however, that Buttrill has been suspended over the incident.

"Jason Buttrill is a valued researcher for Mercury Radio Arts for a television show that airs on TheBlaze network," Mercury Radio Arts, the parents company of TheBlaze, said in a statement. "Given his military and security background, Mr. Buttrill was offered the opportunity for an important research assignment in Iraq. Due to his conduct, Mercury Radio Arts has recalled him back to the U.S. He has been suspended from further field research assignments."

Buttrill tweeted the photo in question on Thursday. Jason Stern of the Committee to Protect Journalists replied and said his actions were dangerous to all journalists.

The reprimand by The Blaze comes after Jason Stern of the Committee to Protect Journalists warned Buttrill that his actions could be deadly for other journalists in or near war zones.

“Jason, journalists are detained and killed all over the world over false accusations of being combatants,” Stern tweeted on Friday. “This doesn't help.”

Mercury Radio Arts, which owns The Blaze, did not indicate how long Buttrill would be suspended in a statement.

No comments:

Post a Comment