AP reporter speaks to State Department’s Ned Price over Russia allegation: ‘This is Alex Jones territory’

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State Department spokesman Ned Price was pressed by a reporter on Thursday about the evidence supporting US officials’ belief that Russia intended to release an elaborate propaganda video about the Ukraine in order to justify starting a war.

The Pentagon said it had information that Russia was planning “to stage a fake attack” to encourage support for a war with Ukraine. Associated Press reporter – Matt Lee – who covers the State Department, pressed Price for evidence to back up the allegation and said it could be “Alex Jones territory” . Price responded jokingly, indicating whether Lee had trust issues with U.S. government intelligence.

“The production of this propaganda video is one of many options the Russian government is developing as a false pretext to launch and potentially justify military aggression against Ukraine,” Price said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Yuri Kochetkov/Pool)

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“Well, that’s a good bite over there,” Lee said. “Well, you alleged they could. Did they actually?”

“What we do know, Matt, is what…I just said. That they engaged in this activity,” Price replied.

“What activity?” Lee said louder.

Price went on to say that this isn’t the first time “we’ve made these reports public.”

Lee replied, “What public report?”

“You haven’t shown any evidence to back that up… What’s the evidence? I mean, it’s like ‘crisis actors’, really? It’s like Alex Jones territory that you’re getting into. What evidence do you have to support the idea that there is a propaganda film in the works?” Lee continued.

Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces (AP/Efrem Lukatsky)

Price then said the information came from US intelligence and had been declassified.

“Okay, well, … where is that? Where is that information?”

Price responded by asking Lee if he wanted a printed transcript of the briefing.

“That’s not proof, you’re saying it,” Lee replied. “I’d like to see evidence that…shows the Russians are doing this.”

“I’m sorry you don’t like the content,” Price replied. “I’m sorry that you doubt the information that is in the possession of the United States government.”

Price’s comment prompted a backlash on Twitter, with reporters pointing out that the AP reporter was just doing his job.

“We are trying to dissuade the Russians from going ahead with this type of activity. That is why we are making it public today. If the Russians do not undertake this, it is not ipso facto a indication that they never had any plans to do so,” Price said.

“So it’s unprovable, my god,” the reporter said.

Following the press conference, Price released a statement saying, “The famous [reporter Matt Lee] and I’ve had our fair share of workouts, and I have the scars to prove it. Obviously, he is not fooling anyone, and I would never suggest otherwise. Nothing but respect for him, which I emphasized to him on a call after the briefing.”

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White House press secretary Jen Psaki used a similar confrontation with a reporter who demanded more evidence about what happened after an ISIS leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, and civilians were killed in a US raid in Syria. The Biden administration said Qurayshi detonated an explosive device.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Psaki then asked why the army’s account is seen as potentially “not providing accurate information” when “ISIS is [considered as] provide accurate information.”

The reporter replied, “But I mean, the US hasn’t always been clear about what’s going on with civilians,” she said. “And I mean, it’s a fact.”

Recently, the Biden administration has faced questions and criticism regarding the Aug. 29 drone attack in Afghanistan that aimed to target a terrorist in connection with the Kabul airport bombing that killed 13 US servicemen. The drone attack instead killed Zemerai Ahmadi and nine members of his family, including seven children. Ahmadi, 37, was a longtime employee of a US aid organization.

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