A White House reporter from Africa has filed a lawsuit against President Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, accusing her of discriminating against him during press briefings. Simon Ateba, who works for Today News Africa, announced on Twitter that he has hired a lawyer to pursue legal action against Jean-Pierre and the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA).
The Battle Between Ateba and Jean-Pierre
Ateba, who is originally from Cameroon, has been covering the White House since 2018. He has often clashed with Jean-Pierre, who is Haitian-American and became the first Black woman to serve as press secretary in 30 years.
According to Ateba, Jean-Pierre has repeatedly refused to answer his questions or acknowledge his emails. He said that she left a briefing room without taking his question on December 91, even though he had raised his hand several times. He also said that she ignored his email requesting an interview with President Biden on December 292, while granting interviews to other outlets.
Ateba believes that Jean-Pierre’s behavior is motivated by racial bias and prejudice. He said that she treats him differently from other reporters because he is African and works for an African media outlet. He said that he feels “humiliated” and “disrespected” by her actions2. “I have also decided to take legal action against President Biden’s Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for discrimination against me in the White House. My lawyer will be the one to also talk about this case here or when we appear on television to discuss the case,” Ateba tweeted on Friday3.
The Conflict Between Ateba and WHCA
Ateba’s lawsuit also targets the WHCA, which represents the journalists who cover the White House and organizes the seating arrangements and rotation system in the briefing room. Ateba claims that the WHCA has violated its own rules and standards by denying him a permanent seat in the briefing room, revoking his access card, and making false accusations against him and his company2.
He said that the WHCA has accused him of being unprofessional, disruptive, and rude4. He also said that they have questioned his credentials, his affiliation, and his funding sources2. He said that he has tried to resolve these issues with them peacefully, but they have ignored or rejected his requests2. “I will fight like hell because as they sit in the briefing room collecting salaries every month I struggle every day just like millions of Americans,” Ateba tweeted on Friday3.
The Controversy Around Ateba’s Questions
Ateba has gained attention for asking provocative questions during press briefings, often interrupting Jean-Pierre or other reporters. Some of his questions have been about topics such as China’s influence in Africa, Biden’s health condition, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and human rights violations around the world. Some of his questions have also been personal or critical of Biden or Jean-Pierre themselves.
For instance,
- On June 3, he asked Jean-Pierre if she was “afraid” of facing tough questions from Fox News’ Peter Doocy4.
- On July 2, he asked Jen Psaki, who was then press secretary, if Biden was “too old” to be president4.
- On November 12, he asked Psaki if she was “ashamed” of working for Biden after he met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping4.
- On December 29, he asked Psaki if she was “happy” with her job performance after a year of lying to Americans2.
Fighting for Justice
Ateba is determined to fight against discrimination and false claims. He was removed from the WHCA due to claims that he “did not follow their own membership guidelines,” but Ateba believes that he was discriminated against. He is determined to use the legal system to bring justice and to fight against discrimination in the White House.
If Ateba’s legal case is successful, it could lead to a change in the way African journalists are treated in the White House. It could also lead to stricter guidelines and regulations for the WHCA and the White House Press Secretary. The outcome of this case could have a major impact on the rights and freedoms of African journalists in the U.S.
FAQ:
Q: Who is Simon Ateba?
A: Simon Ateba is an African journalist and White House reporter for Today News Africa.
Q: Why is Simon Ateba taking legal action against Katrine Jean-Pierre and the White House Correspondents Association?
A: Simon Ateba is taking legal action against Katrine Jean-Pierre for discrimination during press conferences and against the White House Correspondents Association for false claims and violation of membership guidelines.
