GOP Bars Canadian Broadcaster in 9/11 Terrorism Flap

The Republican National Committee has revoked CBC/Radio-Canada’s credentials for its upcoming convention after controversy erupted over its guidance discouraging journalists from calling the Sept. 11 attacks “terrorism” without attribution.

The Republican National Committee has revoked CBC/Radio-Canada’s press credentials for its upcoming midterm convention following an uproar over the Canadian public broadcaster’s guidelines for describing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

CBC confirmed that both its English- and French-language operations were denied access to the Sept. 9-10 Republican gathering in Dallas, where party leaders will assemble ahead of November’s midterm elections.

The guidance drew sharp criticism in the United States and Canada, prompting CBC to reverse it. Basem Boshra, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, acknowledged the controversy had caused “significant concern, anger and hurt” among people who believed the network was minimizing the attacks.

“That is the last thing we want to do,” Boshra said.

Hours after CBC announced the reversal, the RNC revoked the broadcaster’s previously approved credentials. In its letter, the committee cited reports that CBC employees had been instructed not to refer to Sept. 11 as a terrorist attack and argued that allowing the network into the convention would be an “insult” to victims.

CBC Head of Public Affairs Chuck Thompson said the broadcaster is reviewing the decision.

“It is a disappointing development; we hope it will be reconsidered,” Thompson said.

The credential fight comes as the Trump administration has taken a more confrontational approach toward some news organizations. Critics called the RNC action another challenge to press freedom, while Republicans framed the decision around CBC’s treatment of an attack that killed nearly 3,000 people.

The controversy comes just days before the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.