‘Unethical garbage’: ProPublica faces backlash for ‘journalism’ claim after email to Hegseth gets exposed

ProPublica, a left-wing nonprofit organization, has come under fire once again after an email exchange related to its unpublished story on Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth was leaked. The controversy began when Hegseth revealed on social media that ProPublica was planning to publish a false report claiming he was not accepted by West Point in 1999. However, he provided evidence of his acceptance letter signed by West Point Superintendent Lieutenant General Daniel Christman.

ProPublica editor Jesse Eisinger responded to Hegseth’s post, stating that they had reached out to West Point and Hegseth’s spokesperson, and had given Hegseth a fair chance to respond to the allegations before deciding not to publish the story. Despite this explanation, conservatives online criticized ProPublica for not pressing West Point on the inaccurate information and for the accusatory tone of their email to Hegseth’s lawyer.

The email from ProPublica reporter Justin Elliot asking Hegseth’s lawyer why Hegseth had lied about getting into West Point and giving him only an hour to respond sparked further backlash on social media. Many criticized ProPublica for not contacting Hegseth to get his side of the story and for the unethical approach to journalism.

In response to the criticism, ProPublica defended its journalistic standards, stating that reporters ask tough questions to people in power and only publish verified information. A ProPublica spokesperson also explained that they did not publish the story once Hegseth provided documentation correcting the false statements from West Point.

The controversy surrounding ProPublica’s handling of the Hegseth story has raised questions about the organization’s credibility and journalistic ethics. This incident comes after ProPublica faced criticism for its reporting on conservative figures such as Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, which some have called “hit pieces.”

Overall, the renewed scrutiny of ProPublica highlights the importance of responsible journalism and thorough fact-checking in today’s media landscape. It serves as a reminder that all news organizations, regardless of their political affiliation, must uphold the highest standards of accuracy and fairness in their reporting.