"(AP Photo/Omar Havana) The Trump administration is claiming that some Pentagon reporters were bullied into defying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's crackdown on their First Amendment rights. Hegseth gave reporters until Tuesday to sign his new press policy, which bans the use of leaked information not explicitly authorized by the Pentagon. Reporters who didn't comply lost access to the building."
"Only MAGA network, One America News, agreed to adhere to the policy. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung cited an anonymous source when posting to X on Thursday, a few reporters on this wall have privately said they were bullied into participating in the walkout when they actually wanted to stay. They were physically confronted and threatened with retaliation if they didn't join the protest."
"CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter reported Wednesday, Pentagon beat reporters have been handing in their press passes all day long today. It is one of the most striking examples of news media solidarity we've seen this year. Stelter added, Yesterday, some Pentagon reporters noticed a new poster on the wall leading to the Correspondents' Corridor. It said JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME. It was a silent protest of Pete Hegseth's new policy that criminalizes routine reporting. By this morning, the poster was gone."
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a press policy prohibiting the use of leaked information not explicitly authorized by the Pentagon and set a deadline for reporter compliance. Reporters who refused to sign lost access to the building and many handed in their press credentials. Only One America News agreed to follow the new policy. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung cited an anonymous source alleging some reporters were coerced into joining a walkout and faced physical confrontation or threats of retaliation. Pentagon beat reporters staged visible solidarity, posting and later removing a sign reading JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME.
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