An American anchor working for state-owned television station Russia Today quit on air on Wednesday. Liz Wahl, in the network's D.C. bureau, announced she could no longer be "part of a network that whitewashes the actions of Putin. I'm proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth, and that is why, after this newscast, I am resigning."
"It actually makes me feel sick that I worked there," Wahl told The Daily Beast exclusively.
She had been planning this move for some time. "When I came on board from the beginning I knew what I was getting into, but I think I was more cautious and tried to stay as objective as I could," she said, explaining that she was repeatedly censured by her superiors.
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The Kremlin's influence over RT is subtle, Wahl said, but management manipulates its employees, punishing those who stray from the narrative. "In order to succeed there you don’t question," Wahl explained.
RT has had some doozies recently, like "Self-defense force ranks swell in anticipation of Crimea showdown with radicals" and "Tea, sandwiches, music, photos with self-defense forces mark peaceful Sunday in Simferopol."
On Tuesday, RT anchor Abby Martin denounced Putin's invasion of Crimea. "I can't say enough how strongly I am against any state intervention in a sovereign nation's affairs. What Russia did is wrong." Soon after, Martin's bosses said they would sent her to Crimea, which she declined.
"I just think it’s absurd that we’re just a few blocks away from the White House and this is all able to go along," Wahl said.
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