CT Senate Democrats Condemn CBS’s Cowardice

HARTFORD – Today, Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk), and members of the Connecticut Senate Democratic caucus condemned CBS for pulling its report on Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (CECOT), the massive prison in El Salvador, calling the decision a disturbing failure of journalistic courage at a moment when the public deserves transparency and accountability.

“The decision by CBS to pull its reporting on CECOT is deeply troubling and confirms serious concerns about outside political pressure and corporate influence overriding the public’s right to know. The press exists to hold the powerful accountable. When a pillar of American media like CBS walks away from its own reporting, it is an act of cowardice. A functioning democracy relies on having leaders in our media who are willing to challenge power and stand by their work. Political and corporate pressure to abandon the truth erodes the public’s confidence in government at every level. Now more than ever, at a moment when authoritarianism is being openly normalized and democratic institutions are under assault, the media must have the courage to stand up to power rather than cower in silence. The American people deserve fearless reporting, not political censorship disguised as editorial judgment.”

The statement was signed by Senate President Looney, Senate Majority Leader Duff, Senator Saud Anwar, Senator Christine Cohen, Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, Senator Herron Keyon Gaston, Senator Jan Hochadel, Senator Paul Honig, Senator Julie Kushner, Senator Matt Lesser, Senator Rick Lopes, Senator Ceci Maher, Senator Martha Marx, Senator Norm Needleman, Senator MD Rahman, and Senator Derek Slap.

Please Note: a previous version of this press release did not include Senator Herron Keyon Gaston and Senator Jan Hochadel, who both also signed the statement.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kevin Coughlin | kevin.coughlin@cga.ct.gov | 203-710-0193