CNN issued a correction to its reporting on Sen. Katie Britt’s criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies in her State of the Union rebuttal.
Britt cited the story of Karla Jacinto, a victim of sex trafficking from ages 12-16 in Mexico.
CNN questioned aspects of Britt’s account, but later acknowledged inaccuracies.
Joe Biden's policies have been a gift to the cartels that are engaged in horrific sex trafficking and bringing fentanyl to the U.S.
Katie Britt is absolutely right and that's why the media is attacking her.
That want to smear any conservative who speaks out.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) March 11, 2024
It clarified Britt did not claim to meet Jacinto one-on-one.
“We had the opportunity to meet with a young lady. Her name was Karla. She was under control of a drug cartel and a human trafficker from the age 12 to 16, before she was able to escape that,” Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith said.
Britt also did not say Jacinto was trafficked by “drug cartels,” and past reports support Jacinto describing her traffickers as a “crime organization.”
An advocacy group working with Jacinto said her story has been consistent for years.
“Ms. Jacinto has made it clear that she does not wish to be a pawn in political discussions around immigration policies or other political issues. Her focus is to help open peoples’ eyes and let the world know about the evils of human trafficking. She understands that people are [on] both sides of the political aisle can and must be united in this fight for the sake of vulnerable people,” advocacy group Reintegra said.
“We invite Senator Britt and all who care about vulnerable people to join us in working together in a bipartisan, multinational way to help provide safe, migration and resettlement opportunities to help prevent this issue. We believe that we can’t fight this common enemy if we are instead fighting across party or racial divides. We ask all to reject language that dehumanizes those seeking asylum and treat others in a dignified, humane way as we work as one to make this world a better place,” they added.
Republicans accused CNN of a “smear campaign” against Britt for speaking out about open border policies exacerbating human trafficking and drug crises.
“Joe Biden’s policies have been a gift to the cartels that are engaged in horrific sex trafficking and bringing fentanyl to the U.S. Katie Britt is absolutely right and that’s why the media is attacking her. They want to smear any conservative who speaks out,” Sen. Tom Cotton wrote on X.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote, “The media is targeting Senator Katie Britt because she’s a strong conservative who told the truth about open border policies. And Katie is exactly right: these border policies have been a disaster for the American people.”
“It’s past time for the media to stop covering for Joe Biden’s re-election campaign and start talking about the immense, very real human suffering that’s occurring right now,” Britt said.
“The cartels are making record-shattering profits from human trafficking. Historic numbers of migrants are dying at the border. And between brutal murders and fentanyl poisonings, far too many Americans are being killed. That’s the story the media doesn’t want to tell — and now they’re trying to silence me for telling it,” she added.
CNN disagreed with claims its coverage was inaccurate.
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