TOO FAR THIS TIME

Pentagon Pete’s Rules Drive Right-Wing Reporter to Resign

A reporter at The Epoch Times said his employer chose to repeat “state narratives.”

A national security reporter at right-wing outlet The Epoch Times has resigned after the publication became one of the few to sign on to new Pentagon guidelines that largely restrict press access. Andrew Thornebrooke resigned Friday, after The Epoch Times became one of just three U.S.-based outlets to agree to the measures imposed by Pete Hegseth’s Department of Defense, The New York Times reported. Thornebrooke said in his resignation that the publication chose to “abdicate our responsibility as journalists in favor of merely repeating state narratives.” “I can no longer reconcile my role with the direction the paper has chosen, including its increasing willingness to promote partisan materials, publish demonstrably false information, and manipulate the reporting of its ground staff to shape the worldview of our readers,” he wrote. Editor-in-chief Jasper Fakkert responded, stating that “The Epoch Times does not view the new guidelines for Pentagon press access as an impediment to our reporting.” Between 40 and 50 journalists reportedly left the Pentagon press corps in protest after refusing to sign the DoD’s policy by Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Daily Beast reached out to the Pentagon for comment.