Independent journalist Sam Husseini was forcibly removed from a press briefing held by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken after attempting to raise questions about the Gaza ceasefire and U.S. foreign policy.
The incident, captured on video by Ryan Grim of DropSite News, shows Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) officers intervening as Husseini protested his ejection.
Grim:
”Reporter @samhusseini was just physically dragged from Blinken’s briefing. “Why aren’t you at The Hague?” he asked.”
Husseini had tried to question Blinken about allegations of genocide in Gaza and the U.S. government’s awareness of controversial Israeli military policies, including the ”Hannibal Directive.” The journalist also sought answers on topics such as Israeli nuclear weapons, the applicability of the Geneva Conventions to Gaza, and Blinken’s alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
As officers seized him, Husseini yelled, “Get your hands off me! Answer my damn question.” He accused Blinken of disregarding press freedoms and called out, “You pontificate about a free press!” before being carried out of the room.
”Watch a real journalist confronting the war criminals of the Biden Administration & him being silenced & manhandled by the tools of the Fascist Biden admin.”
Blinken had earlier stated that journalists must “respect the process,” asserting that questions would be addressed following his prepared remarks. Husseini, however, challenged the secretary of state, citing international criticism of Israel’s actions and accusing the U.S. of enabling what he described as genocide.
After the incident, Husseini took to X, claiming he had been “seriously manhandled” for posing questions that the State Department avoided. He described the force used against him as “completely excessive” and detailed being handcuffed after his removal.
Grayzone Editor Max Blumenthal Also Escorted Out
In a separate confrontation, Max Blumenthal, editor of the Grayzone, accused Blinken of betraying Judaism and fostering what he called a “Holocaust of our time.” Blumenthal linked Blinken’s actions to his family’s lobbying ties to Israel, accusing the secretary of state of prioritizing Zionism over international law. Staffers also removed Blumenthal after loudly confronting Blinken, RT writes.
Journalist @MaxBlumenthal confronts Secretary of State Blinken during his farewell address to the State Department press corps:
“Why did you allow the Holocaust of our time to happen? How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide?”Blumenthal also called out spokesperson Matt… https://t.co/hBkwIj4FR7 pic.twitter.com/mwFMbRPVf1
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) January 16, 2025
The briefing ended as Blinken maintained his stance on the importance of diplomatic protocols while sidestepping the pointed accusations raised by the journalists.