No search results appeared on the New York Times website when users searched “Eric Swalwell” or “Christine Fang” several days after the congressman’s connection to the suspected Chinese spy was reported.
Axios reported on Tuesday that Rep. Swalwell, a Democrat, was linked to suspected Chinese spy Fang. However, on Friday afternoon, the New York Times website search function yielded no results for news coverage of the controversy.
The omission was noticed by some on social media, who slammed the publisher for not informing readers of the alleged connection between a member of Congress and the Chinese government.
“The New York Times has yet to inform its readers that Congressman Eric Swalwell, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, had a relationship with a Chinese spy,” former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer tweeted along with a screenshot showing no results for a search of “Eric Swalwell” on the outlet’s website. “Journalism is broken.”
The New York Times has yet to inform its readers that Congressman Eric Swalwell, who sits on the Intelligence Committee, had a relationship with a Chinese spy. Journalism is broken. pic.twitter.com/2BCDLEYajy
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) December 11, 2020
The story was skipped by several other prominent news outlets, and it was reported that broadcast networks ABC, NBC, and CBS all declined to cover the controversy on their morning and evening shows after the story broke.
The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
Swalwell, who was described in the report as one of Fang’s “most significant targets,” downplayed the controversy and suggested it was a politically motivated attack on his credibility.
