The Washington Post is embroiled in a major scandal as liberal columnist Max Boot’s wife, Sue Mi Terry, faces accusations of acting as an unregistered agent for South Korea. Terry, a former CIA analyst and senior official at the National Security Council, is charged with accepting luxury gifts in exchange for promoting South Korean interests during media appearances and sharing private information with intelligence officers.
The Justice Department’s indictment alleges that Terry facilitated meetings to grant South Korean officials access to U.S. officials without registering as a foreign agent. The charges suggest she has been involved in these activities since 2013, raising serious questions about her influence on U.S. policy and media.
Max Boot, known for his fierce criticism of former President Donald Trump and for promoting the Russiagate conspiracy, co-authored several pieces with his wife on Korean issues. This has led to concerns about journalistic integrity and potential conflicts of interest. The Washington Post has responded by placing editor’s notes atop several opinion articles written or co-authored by Terry, acknowledging the allegations against her.
Despite these measures, the paper is facing criticism for using Terry as an expert in news articles without disclosing her marriage to Boot. Critics argue this compromises the credibility of the publication, especially given Boot’s prominence as a national security columnist.
Becket Adams of the National Journalism Center pointed out the severity of the situation, noting that Boot’s willingness to peddle conspiracies against Trump now contrasts sharply with the allegations against his wife. Adams questioned whether Boot should continue writing on national security issues given the potential conflict of interest.
The Post has not indicated whether it will investigate Boot, but the scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over his work and the paper’s editorial standards. Terry has denied the charges, calling them unfounded and a distortion of her work. However, the indictment details extensive interactions with South Korean intelligence, further complicating the issue.
This incident highlights the challenges media organizations face in maintaining transparency and integrity, especially when their contributors have close ties to individuals accused of serious misconduct. The Washington Post’s handling of this scandal will likely be scrutinized as it navigates the fallout from these allegations.
