Woodward and Bernstein call Washington Post’s decision not to endorse Kamala Harris ‘disappointing’

Famous Watergate journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein criticized Jeff Bezos’ decision to keep The Washington Post neutral in the 2024 presidential race. By refusing to endorse Kamala Harris for president.

“We respect the traditional independence of the editorial page, but this decision 11 days before the 2024 presidential election ignores The Washington Post’s own overwhelming reportorial evidence on the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump,” the pair said in a statement. ” Published by CNN Friday.

“Under Jeff Bezos’ ownership, The Washington Post’s news operation has used its abundant resources to rigorously investigate the threat that a second Trump presidency poses to the future of American democracy and this decision.” Even more surprising and disappointing, especially this late in the election process.”

Both men are long established in journalism and work at The Washington Post, Where he famously covered Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal Helped end his presidency.

Bezos, Who bought the Washington Post in 2013This week canceled a planned endorsement for Harris from its editorial board, a move that sparked anger in the public newsroom.

“I didn’t sign up to be a journalist to keep quiet about what’s most important. I haven’t come here to be a coward. Some of us really believe in speaking truth to power. Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah said, today we were deceived Wrote on X Friday,

One Washpo Editor, Robert Kagan, have already resigned upon decision, while 2,000 readers canceled their subscriptions within 24 hours, which one staffer called an “unusually high number”. Semaphore reported,

However, a source familiar with the numbers dismissed the cancellation, telling the outlet that they are “not statistically significant.”

Bezos’ decision — which will also stand for “any future presidential election,” according to publisher Will Lewis — follows that of the Los Angeles Times, whose billionaire owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, also declined to issue an endorsement. due to which flood of resignations From its editorial board.