3 days ago
Journalist Glenn Greenwald flays 'political enemies' over release of sex tape
Glenn Greenwald has blamed 'political enemies' after a sex tape involving the journalist and lawyer was spread on social media.
The videos - which depict 'fully consensual behavior' - are being used to 'advance a political agenda,' he claimed.
The 58-year-old, who is openly gay, said Friday the clips were published without his knowledge or consent, and he plans to take legal action.
In a post on X, he wrote: 'Last night's videos were released online depicting behavior in my private life. Some were distorted and others were not.
'They were published without my knowledge or consent and its publication was therefore criminal.
'Though we do not yet know exactly who is responsible, we are close to knowing, and the motive was a maliciously political one.'
He added he carries 'no embarrassment or regret' about the acts depicted in the videos.
'The videos depict consenting adults engaged in intimate actions in their private lives.
'They all display fully consensual behavior, harming nobody.
'Obviously it can be uncomfortable and unpleasant when your private behavior is made public against your will – that's why the behavior is private in the first place – but the only wrongdoing here is the criminal and malicious publication of the videos in an attempt to malign perceived political enemies and advance a political agenda.
'Others are, of course, free to form their own judgments, as some are prone to do about others' private lives.
'It won't change my work. I will continue to call out the many prongs of my journalism, and pursue the causes important to me, exactly as before.'
Greenwald gained recognition for his work with The Guardian newspaper in Britain before he co-founded The Intercept. He contributed to the site until his resignation in 2020.
He was married to Brazilian politician David Miranda, who died in 2023. The couple have two sons.
He has been inundated with messages of support since sharing his angry message.
One person said: 'You have my unwavering support! Don't stop telling the truth. I'm sorry this is happening to you.
'I won't be watching anything depicting your private life which was released without your permission.
'I hope others will choose to do the same. This could happen to any of us speaking truth to power.
'We must stand together. Thank you for decades of integrity, hard work and personal risk to uncover and expose truth.'
Another posted: 'Great statement Glenn, may those trying to intimidate you into silence continue to fail.'
One other added: 'Keep up the good work Glenn, this attempt to get at you is ridiculous and everyone with half a brain can see through it!'
Greenwald had won a Pulitzer for his reporting about government surveillance programs based on leaks by Edward Snowden.
His resignation from The Intercept came after he claimed editors were actively censoring an article he wrote that was critical of Joe Biden.
He penned a scathing essay to his Substack in which he blasted a culture of 'repression, censorship and ideological homogeneity' at the website and in the mainstream media at large.
Greenwald wrote: 'The Intercept's editors, in violation of my contractual right of editorial freedom, censored an article I wrote, refusing to publish it unless I remove all sections critical of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, the candidate vehemently supported by all New-York-based Intercept editors involved in this effort at suppression.'
'The censored article, based on recently revealed emails and witness testimony, raised critical questions about Biden's conduct,' he continued.
