Journalist James Risen: Trump Is Attacking Free Press 'In a Way We Haven't Seen in Modern American History'

Speaking from his years of experience being pursued by the Obama Justice Department for simply practicing journalism and refusing to reveal his confidential sources, Intercept reporter James Risen told The Hill on Monday that President Donald Trump is building on his predecessor’s war on the free press by “demagoguing” the media “in a way we haven’t seen in modern American history.”

“Obama tried to put me in jail for seven years… A lot of conservatives try to point to me as an example of Obama on press freedom and I fully agree with the view that he had a terrible record on press freedom,” Risen said. “The difference with Trump is that he is demagoguing the issue in a way we haven’t seen in modern American history.”

Asked if, given his history, he believes the Trump White House is a greater threat to press freedom than the Obama White House was, Risen said, “I didn’t think I would get to the point where I would say that, but I do believe that now.”

Risen’s assessment of Trump’s attacks on the press throughout his first two years in office came just after the White House on Monday threatened to revoke CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s credentials as soon as the emergency restraining order imposed by a federal judge expires in two weeks.

In a statement, CNN said Trump is continuing to violate the First and Fifth Amendments and that the administration’s “actions threaten all journalists and news organizations.”