The Blaze suspends reporter who shot at ISIS fighters
The Blaze has suspended a reporter who fired shots at Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters while on assignment in Mosul, Iraq.
{mosads}Jason Buttrill, a former Marine and a foreign affairs correspondent for the Glenn Beck-owned Blaze, a multi-platform news and entertainment network, fired six times at ISIS fighters with a rifle while on the Mosul front.
“Exclusive: TheBlaze’s Jason Buttrill shoots at ISIS members and shares footage from the Mosul front,” reads the headline. The story is still live on the site despite The Blaze’s recalling Buttrill from Mosul and suspending him from the publication.
The reprimand by The Blaze comes after Jason Stern of the Committee to Protect Journalists warned Buttrill that his actions could be deadly for other journalists in or near war zones.
“Jason, journalists are detained and killed all over the world over false accusations of being combatants,” Stern tweeted on Friday. “This doesn’t help.”
Mercury Radio Arts, which owns The Blaze, did not indicate how long Buttrill would be suspended in a statement.
“Jason Buttrill is a valued researcher for Mercury Radio Arts for a television show that airs on TheBlaze network. Given his military and security background, Mr. Buttrill was offered the opportunity for an important research assignment in Iraq. Due to his conduct, Mercury Radio Arts has recalled him back to the US. He has been suspended from further field research assignments,” the statement read.
The Hill has reached out The Blaze for comment.
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