We’ve documented how CNSNews.com got interested again in serving as a stenographer for right-wing legal group Judicial Watch at the beginning of last year. Indeed, CNS — spearheaded by managing editor Michael W. Chapman — continued to crank out Judicial Watch press releases throughout 2022 and up until CNS’ shutdown in April. Chapman touted how Judicial watch was dabbling in COVID vaccine conspiracy theories in an April 2022 article:
Judicial Watch, a government watchdog organization, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services because it has not responded to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request concerning communications about the side-effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Americans have a right to know about any and all safety issues tied to the COVID vaccines,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton in a press release.
“The government’s unlawful stonewall on this issue, which will now take a federal FOIA lawsuit to resolve, suggests that there is something to hide,” he said.
[…]The BBC recently reported on a British mother who died from a “‘catastrophic’ bleed on the brain caused by a rare side-effect of the Covid-19 vaccine.” The coroner “recorded the cause of death as Vaccine-Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT),” said the BBC.
Chapman didn’t mention that VITT is a very rare side effect.
Intern Lauren Shank got the call to push further vaccine conspiracy-mongering in a Nov. 2 article:
Judicial Watch, a government watchdog organization, announced Tuesday that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for insufficiently responding to a records request for COVID-19 vaccine safety studies.
“The Biden administration is playing shell games with documents on the Covid vaccine,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “The arrogant cover-up of COVID vaccine safety information further undermines public confidence in these already controversial drugs.”
[…]Among many other findings, Judicial Watch also uncovered FDA records that showed “top officials being pressured by companies and the Biden administration to impose timelines on approval for the booster shots ‘that make no sense.’”
CNS failed to make either article fair and balanced by talking to medical professionals who can vouch for the safety of the vaccines. And Shank didn’t make clear that the statement that vaccines “make no sense” came from Judicial Watch, not known for having any sort of medical expertise.
CNS also hyped Judicial Watch’s actions to further right-wing narratives. Several articles over the past year were linked to Republican obsession with Hunter Biden:
- Judicial Watch Sues State Department for Hunter Biden Documents
- Judicial Watch Sues Secret Service for Records on Hunter Biden’s Handgun Dumped Into Public Trashcan
- Judicial Watch Sues for Records of Possible FBI Obstruction in Hunter Biden Case
- Judicial Watch Sues FBI for Records on Hunter Biden Gun Scandal
A Dec. 20 article by Chapman touted how Jusicial Watch latched onto another right-wing narrative by filing “a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Defense Department because it has failed to release documents concerning ‘Critical Race Theory’ and ‘white supremacy,’ reportedly being taught at the Air Force Academy. The academy is overseen by the Defense Department.” Chapman followd up in an April 3 article gushing that the FOIA request yielded “U.S. Air Force Academy documents revealing that the institution is pushing ‘woke’ educational materials on its cadets. These records include the academy’s superintendent, USAF Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, contending in a report’s introduction that ‘systemic racism exists in our society’ and ‘social injustice’ continues to “afflict our society.” No evidence was offered that disputed the accuracy of those assessments; instead, Chapman uncritically quoted Fitton ranting that “The documents confirm U.S. Air Force Academy leadership is obsessed with anti-American critical race theory and seeks to punish and smear cadets through leftist indoctrination programs.”
A Feb. 9 article by Chapman touted Judicial Watch whining about the presence of U.S. Marines during a speech by President Biden last fall:
Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Defense Department because it has failed to produce legally requested communications concerning President Joe Biden’s Sept. 1 campaign speech in Philadelphia, where he positioned two U.S. Marines to stand behind him as he lectured that “MAGA Republicans” are threatening the “very foundations of our Republic.”
[…]In a press release, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said, “Biden’s infamous ‘Red Speech,’ which included the abuse of our Marines in its totalitarian imagery, painted a target on Trump and tens of millions of Americans for political suppression and worse.”
“And, to make matters worse, the Pentagon is violating federal law by hiding records about Biden’s misuse of our military in his attempt to intimidate Americans,” Fitton added.
CNS hated Biden’s speech, but it was silent when Donald Trump used the military as political props.
Chapman’s final piece of Judicial Watch stenography came on April 14 — six days before CNS was shut down — uncritically repeating the group’s whining that local authorities in Maryland are ignoring the group’s demand for records regaring “the ongoing protests outside the homes of some Supreme Court justices.”