The New York Times says it turned to the Irish government to rescue a reporter threatened with arrest in Egypt two years ago out of concern that the Trump administration wouldn't help.
Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger revealed the incident during a speech at Brown University and in an op-ed published Tuesday. Sulzberger said the paper was warned by a U.S. government official that Egypt planned to seize reporter Declan Walsh.
The official said the Trump administration intended to let the arrest be carried out. The official worried about being punished for even warning the Times about it.
The paper turned to Ireland, where Walsh is a citizen, and one of that country's diplomats helped the reporter get out of Egypt.
Speaking on background, a State Department spokesperson told VOA "At all levels, the Department of State works tirelessly to advance press freedom. The United States believes everyone should be able to express themselves freely, and that media should be able to operate free from harassment, threats and violence."
The spokesperson said at the time of the incidents, the State Department raised its concerns with Egyptian officials.
