Iowa AG Brenna Bird leads letter warning news organizations over alleged Hamas ties of photographers

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led writing a joint letter warning four news organizations about concerns that freelance journalists who supplied photos of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel may have had ties to the terrorist organization.

In the letter, Bird and 14 other Republican state attorneys general argue that the news organizations may have provided “material support to terrorists” by paying for photographs from journalists with alleged ties to Hamas.

The letter is addressed to officials at the New York Times, Associated Press, CNN and Reuters. A November report from HonestReporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog, questioned whether freelance photojournalists for the organizations had advance knowledge of the Oct. 7 attack. The news organizations have denied they had any knowledge of the attack.

One of those reporters, Hassan Eslaiah, posed for a portrait with Yahya Sinwar, a Hamas leader, in a resurfaced social media post. CNN and the AP, who ran Eslaiah’s photos but said he was not working for them on the day of the attack, have since said they are no longer working with him.

According to the New York Times, photojournalist Yousef Masoud, another reporter named by HonestReporting, said he was awoken by rocket fire on the day of the attack. His first photos were taken 90 minutes after the attack began, and the Times denied he had any prior knowledge.

The letter cites federal law that bars providing “material support” to terrorist organizations, and notes that it is illegal under state law in Iowa as well. The letter says the news organizations are “on notice.”

“You should ensure that you are taking all necessary steps to prevent your organizations’ from contracting with members of terror organizations,” the letter says. “We urge you in the strongest terms to take care that your hiring practices conform to the laws forbidding material support for terror organizations.”

Gov. Reynolds joins letter to limit land purchases by China

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds joined 16 other Republican governors in a letter calling for Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration to block purchases of U.S. land by the Chinese government.

The letter points to plans for a 270-acre purchase in Michigan by Gotion, a subsidiary of Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese company. The site of the facility, which is planned to manufacture electric vehicle batteries, is about 100 miles from a Michigan National Guard facility.

Several of the governors who signed the letter, led by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, have moved to limit foreign ownership of land. Iowa law already prohibits foreign entities from owning agricultural land unless it is less than 320 acres and used for non-farming purposes.

“For too long, we have allowed dangerous and adversarial governments to infiltrate our country,” the letter says. “Our states will tolerate such allowances no longer. The Biden Administration must reckon with the fact that such entities are plain threats to our national security, our farmers, and our citizenry.”

The letter calls on administration officials to use “all available tools” to prevent acquisition of U.S. land by foreign governments and entities.

Ann Mincks named teacher of the year

The Iowa Department of Education named Ann Mincks Iowa Teacher of the Year for 2024. The English Language Learner teacher at Hoover High School in Des Moines joined Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday for a ceremony.

“Ann is an exceptional teacher. By providing her students the skills necessary to achieve literacy, she is creating a foundation for them to thrive in school, work, and life,” Reynolds said in a statement.

Governor, first gentleman to host Christmas event at Terrace Hill

Gov. Kim Reynolds and first gentleman Kevin Reynolds will host “Christmas at Terrace Hill” on Dec. 17.

The annual event, scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., includes photos with Santa Claus and the first family, ornament decorating and a station to send letters to deployed National Guard members. Organizers also will collect donations for deployed service members.

At the event, Reynolds will read “No Company for Christmas,” a story about the historic Terrace Hill residence.

Tickets are $25 per person or $50 per household. Proceeds will go to the Terrace Hill Partnership, which supports historic conservation at the residence.

Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau