Politics & Government
Customs Held Passport Until Journalist Said He Writes Propaganda
Reporter Ben Watson says that a Customs officer at Dulles Airport refused to return his passport until he admitted writing propaganda.
WASHINGTON, DC — A reporter returning from assignment overseas says that he was stopped by a customs agent who held his passport hostage until he admitted writing propaganda. Ben Watson, who is a news editor for Defense One, was returning from Denmark when he was stopped at Dulles International Airport Thursday afternoon.
After answering the usual questions about undeclared items, Watson says that the customs official asked him what he did for a living. Journalism, Watson replied.
In an article by Watson's employer, Defense One, he provided his recollection of the conversation.
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Watson said that after saying he's a journalist, the Customs agent asked him, "So, you write propaganda, right?
Watson said no.
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The agent and Watson had the same conversation three more times. After being asked a fourth time, Watson said that he decided that the only way he was going to be able to go on his way was by saying yes.
Watson said that's when he got his passport back.
Customs says that they are investigating the incident.
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