The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday released a statement against United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, calling him a "threat to press freedom". Chairperson of the committee’s board Sandra Mims Rowe's statement follows Trump’s recent comments against the media during his election campaign.
Rowe’s statement said, “Since the beginning of his candidacy, Trump has insulted and vilified the press and has made his opposition to the media a centrepiece of his campaign. Trump has routinely labelled the press as dishonest and scum and singled out individual news organisations and journalists.”
The Republican candidate had mocked a disabled New York Times journalist and called an ABC News reporter a “sleaze” during a press conference, the statement said. His campaign officials allegedly refused to grant press credentials to reporters associated with publications that criticised him.
The Republican nominee has also sent a legal notice to The New York Times asking the publication to retract its "reckless and defamatory" story, where two women accused him of "touching them inappropriately".
The Trump campaign is mired in controversy and has been criticised on several counts. The presidential candidate faces several accusations of sexual assault, besides being pulled up for his lewd comments against women. The US presidential election will be held on November 8.
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