Today News Africa reporter Simon Ateba has been told by the White House that he could be banned from the Press briefing room for questioning why he is routinely ignored by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The White House served Ateba the “warning” following his latest complaint of being ignored by Jean-Pierre at the end of last month. The letter, which Ateba posted on his Twitter account, tells him that his behavior on the occasion was “unacceptable,” threatening:
“If you continue to impede briefings or events by shouting over your colleagues who have been called on for a question, even after you have been asked to stop by a White House employee, then your hard pass may be suspended or revoked.”
Ateba has been repeatedly ignored by the White House after asking difficult questions to the Biden administration, such as addressing Biden’s eight-country African travel ban in late 2021. Since then, Ateba claims he has been blacklisted, with his emails and remonstrances going unanswered and attempts to meet with the press secretary being declined. Ateba argues that he has taken to shouting his questions from the back of the room “as a last resort.”
He has even gone so far as to claim the refusal to allow him to ask questions is a result of discrimination. “I’m Black, I’m an immigrant and I’m the little guy,” Ateba states.
BREAKING: Following @washingtonpost hit piece meant to prevent me from renewing my hard pass, the @WhiteHouse and @PressSec office just sent me 'A WARNING LETTER." Here it is:
Mr. Ateba,
We strongly support the important role that members of the press play in covering the White… pic.twitter.com/7EbS9HDpIW
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) July 11, 2023