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Charges Dropped Against 'Russian Jim Acosta'

Posted By Andrew Stiles On In Politics | Comments Disabled

Russian authorities on Tuesday announced they were abandoning efforts to prosecute investigative reporter Ivan Golunov, whose recent arrest on dubious drug charges prompted a remarkable outpouring of solidarity from Russian journalists.

Golunov's detainment, the most recent example in the Russian government's long history of targeting and cracking down on journalists, has drawn comparisons to that of CNN ace reporter Jim Acosta, who had his White House press badge temporarily suspended in 2018, and was once called a "rude, terrible person" by President Donald J. Trump.

Acosta is the author of the The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America, in which he laments the demise of the White House press briefing, among other things, and defends his right to shout questions at the president. "I want my kids to grow up in a country where, you know, we can still shout questions at the president," Acosta said in a recent interview with CBS News.

Gulonov, a leading journalist best known for his reporting on official corruption, faced up to 20 years in jail if convicted of the questionable charge, which many believe to have been fabricated. A doctor who examined Gulonov in police custody said the journalist had suffered a concussion, bruising, and potentially a number of broken ribs at the time of his arrest.

Acosta showed his solidarity with the Russian journalist on Tuesday by posting on an article on Twitter, the popular social networking website.

Acosta will be in Manhattan later this evening to attend a book signing and discussion moderated by Dan Rather.