US reporter fighting back after border patrol seized his cell phones
Max Blumenthal says he was singled out at airport after Trump ally Laura Loomer targeted him in online postsWhen reporter Max Blumenthal went to a cafe in Tehran one night a few weeks ago to upload videos from his reporting on the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, he began seeing social media posts from Trump ally Laura Loomer targeting him, including one that suggested he should be “taken off the plane by US Marshalls when he lands back in the US … [and] detained”.“I began to prepare myself for being harassed on my return,” Blumenthal said.
Reported by 1 outlet — The Guardian US. See all sources ↓
Max Blumenthal is a US reporter who works for a news website. When he returned from Iran, US border officers took his two cell phones at the airport. He says this happened after online posts by Laura Loomer, a supporter of former President Trump, called for him to be stopped and detained. Blumenthal says he is fighting the seizure and wants his phones back.
Why it matters
This case shows how government officers can affect journalists' work and their right to report news. It raises concerns about press freedom and the treatment of reporters who criticize public figures.
- Who is Max Blumenthal?
- He is a US reporter who covers international news.
- Why did border officers take his phones?
- He says it was because of online posts by Laura Loomer that called for him to be stopped.
- What is Blumenthal doing now?
- He is challenging the seizure and trying to get his phones back.
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US reporter fighting back after border patrol seized his cell phones
Sources1TypeCoverageThe Guardian US