The White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) on Thursday voiced outrage over the possibility that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders shared a “manipulated” video to justify the Trump administration’s suspension of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials.
{mosads}“The White House News Photographers Association is appalled to learn that the White House spokesperson may have shared a manipulated video of CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s interaction with a White House intern during a news conference,” WHNPA President Whitney Shefte said in a statement.
“As visual journalists, we know that manipulating images is manipulating truth. It’s deceptive, dangerous and unethical,” she added. “Knowingly sharing manipulated images is equally problematic, particularly when the person sharing them is a representative of our country’s highest office with vast influence over public opinion.”
Shefte’s comments come as the White House faces growing scrutiny over its decision to pull Acosta’s hard press pass. The administration claimed that it suspended Acosta’s credentials for becoming physical with a young female White House intern as he tried to ask President Trump a question.
Sanders doubled down on the administration’s decision late Wednesday night by sharing a video of Acosta’s interaction with the intern. Footage shows Acosta refusing to give up his microphone to the intern and his arm brushing hers in the process.
“We stand by our decision to revoke this individual’s hard pass,” Sanders said in a statement on her official Twitter account. “We will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video.”
Many journalists and social media users have claimed that the video was doctored, however.
Matt Dornic, CNN’s vice president of communications and digital partnerships, called Sanders “absolutely shameful” and added that she released “actual fake news.”
Others pointed out that the video Sanders released was first shared by InfoWars, the site operated by right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Acosta has repeatedly sparred with Trump and members of his administration. On Wednesday, as he tried to ask Trump a question about the migrant caravan, the president called Acosta “a rude, terrible person.”
“CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them,” Trump said.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.