Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is criticizing “uncalled for” news stories about individuals who donated to the so-called “Freedom Convoy” in Canada.
Earlier this week, hackers released the information of people who donated to the protests through the fundraising site GiveSendGo.
Several reporters used the information and reached out to donors for stories about them and their motivations for giving money to the protesters.
Podcast host Saagar Enjeti tweeted a screenshot of an email purportedly from a reporter from The Washington Post to one of the donors.
“Your name and email address are associated with a $40 contribution,” the email reads. “Could you please tell me if this matches your records, and either call or reply to this email to share what motivated you to contribute to the campaign?”
The Washington Post is contacting people whose donation info was leaked and who gave as little as 40 dollars to the truckers to ask them why they did so
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) February 16, 2022
Email provided to me by a source pic.twitter.com/qbzebYyHiP
Canadian reporter Alison Mah shared a story about a shop owner, that mentioned her name, who donated $250 to the protests and now regrets the donation.
Omar criticized reporters for writing about the donors in a tweet, “I fail to see why any journalist felt the need to report on a shop owner making such [an] insignificant donation rather than to get them harassed. It’s unconscionable and journalists need to do better.”
I fail to see why any journalist felt the need to report on a shop owner making such a insignificant donation rather than to get them harassed. It’s unconscionable and journalists need to do better. https://t.co/oF7WIoS1jp
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 16, 2022
“I wish journalists wrote the articles they think they are writing. Sorry to say it, but your stories aren’t always balanced and often have a clear political bias. Calling it out isn’t harassment or journalist bashing. Everyone has a right to critique your story and it’s [sic] merits,” she continued.
Finally, Omar added, “I fully read the article multiple times and I still don’t believe there was merit to the story as reported other than further harassment. You all are entitled to your opinions, but my opinion remains the same. These kinds of stories ruin people’s lives and are uncalled for.”
Ps. I fully read the article multiple times and I still don’t believe there was merit to the story as reported other than further harassment. You all are entitled to your opinions, but my opinion remains the same. These kinds of stories ruin people’s lives and are uncalled for.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 17, 2022
The “Freedom Convoy” started in Canada as truckers drove to the capital to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates.