Charles Koch is hoping tonight reporters will forget how he and his brother have attempted to intimidate and censor reporters–especially those who disagree with them or call them out for their corporate and environmental misdeeds–by being a Platinum sponsor to the Newseum’s Free Expression Awards Gala.

The Awards event “recognize[s] those who exhibit passion for and dedication to free expression, including those who have taken personal or professional risks in sharing information with the public, are censored or punished by authorities or groups for their work, or show courage by pushing boundaries in artistic and media expression.”

The irony of it all.

The Kochs & The Press

The Free Expression Award Recognized Those Who Were Dedicated To Free Speech Despite The Risks Of Punishment Or Censorship

The Free Expression Awards Recognized Individuals Who Exhibited A Dedication To Free Speech Including Those Who Took Risks To Share Information With The Public, Were “Censored Or Punished By Authorities Or Groups,” Or Pushed The Boundaries For Their Work. According to Newseum, “The awards recognize those who exhibit passion for and dedication to free expression, including those who have taken personal or professional risks in sharing information with the public, are censored or punished by authorities or groups for their work, or show courage by pushing boundaries in artistic and media expression. The award categories are free speech, free press, religious freedom, and arts and entertainment.” [Newseum, Accessed 4/15/16]

But The Kochs Fight Journalistic Freedom With Intimidation And Censorship

The Kochs Hired P.I.’s To “Dig Up Dirt” On Reporter Jane Mayer

Jane Mayer Discovered That Operatives Were Directed By The Koch Network To “Dig Up Dirt On Her.” According to Mother Jones, “While reporting for her book, [Jane] Mayer discovered that after her story was published, the Koch political machine assigned six or so operatives, who were working in borrowed space in the lobbying firm operated by J.C. Watts, a former Republican congressman, to dig up dirt on her.” [Mother Jones, 1/21/16

The Private Investigator Attempted To Spread False Plagiarism Allegations Against Mayer

A Private Investigator Dug Up A False Plagiarism Claim Against Journalist Jane Mayer After She Wrote A Major Story On The Koch Brothers. According to The New York Times, “Out of the blue in the fall of 2010, a blogger asked Jane Mayer, a writer with The New Yorker, how she felt about the private investigator who was digging into her background. Ms. Mayer thought the idea was a joke, she said this week […]As it happened, Ms. Mayer had published a major story in the magazine that August about the brothers David and Charles Koch, and their role in cultivating the power of the Tea Party movement in 2010 […] Ms. Mayer began to take the rumored investigation seriously when she heard from her New Yorker editor that she was going to be accused — falsely — of plagiarism, stealing the work of other writers. A dossier of her supposed plagiarism had been provided to reporters at The New York Post and The Daily Caller, but the smears collapsed when the writers who were the purported victims made statements saying that it was nonsense, and that there had been no plagiarism whatsoever.” [The New York Times, 1/26/16]

The Kochs Censor Journalists Covering Their Donor Retreats

The Koch’s Only Recently Allowed In Any Journalists To Their Secret Events

The Koch’s Most Recent Donor Retreat Was Only The Second To Allow In Journalists. According to NBC News, “Deep in the California desert in an area dotted with luxury homes and golf courses, wealthy conservative activist Charles Koch encouraged the 500 wealthy attendees to his biannual retreat to ‘be open’ about their beliefs. […] This is only the second seminar that has allowed members of the media.” [NBC News, 1/31/16]

• With Previous Retreats, The Kochs Tried To Keep Everything Completely Secret: The Content, Speakers, Locations And Dates. According to Mother Jones, “The brothers have held their twice-yearly seminars since at least 2003, endeavoring to keep almost everything about them a secret—not just the content but also the identities of attendees and speakers, and even the locations and dates.” [Mother Jones, 9/6/11]

Journalists That Did Attend The Event Were Restricted In What They Could Report

Six Journalists Accepted Invitations To The Event That Were Conditioned On Them Following Rules That Included Protecting The Identity Of Attendees. According to NBC News, “A small number of journalists were invited to cover the event. Six journalists, including NBC News, accepted in exchange for following some guidelines including preserving participants’ identity.” [NBC News,1/31/16]

Ironically, Their Latest Retreat Opened With A Panel On The First Amendment

The Koch’s 2016 Retreat Opened With A Panel Discussion On The First Amendment. According to NBC News, “As Koch encouraged openness for his guests, an opening panel discussion focused on the First Amendment followed a catered dinner in a large ballroom.’” [NBC News, 1/31/16]

Koch Industries Is Known For Being Combative With The Media

Koch Industries Is “Renowned For A Combative Relationship With The Media” – They Decline To Comment On Stories, Then Decry Them After Publication. According to The Huffington Post, “Koch Industries is renowned for a combative relationship with the national media, on several occasions declining to engage with reporters before an article runs and then pushing back aggressively online after publication.” [The Huffington Post, 4/27/13]

Koch Industries Tried To Intimidate InsideClimate News

InsideClimate News Publisher David Sassoon Was “Shocked” By The Aggressiveness Of Koch Industries “Media Intimidation” Tactics. According to the Huffington Post, “‘We all felt completely disrespected and attacked,’ David Sassoon, publisher of InsideClimate News, told The Huffington Post of his outlet’s experience covering Koch Industries. ‘They were engaging in what looked to us like media intimidation. I’ve never had that experience, ever.’ […]Sassoon, of InsideClimate News, said he was ‘shocked by the aggressiveness of [Koch Industries’] approach, their refusal to speak with us, and their lack of transparency.’” [The Huffington Post,4/27/13]

Koch Industries Took Out Ads Personally Attacking InsideClimate News’ Publisher

Koch Industries Took Out Ads Attacking David Sassoon And Tried To Get Reuters To Drop InsideClimate News As A Partner.According to the Huffington Post, “Koch Industries took its criticism of a 2011 InsideClimate News piece suggesting the Koch brothers would be big winners if the Keystone XL pipeline was approved straight to the Reuters news service, which carried the environmental news site’s work. ‘They were pressuring them to drop us as a content partner,’ said Sassoon, adding that Koch Industries ‘took out ads personally attacking me.’” [The Huffington Post, 4/27/13]

Charles Koch Insisted On Pre-Conditions For Interview Access

The New York Times Was Unable To Get A One-On-One Interview With The Press-Shy Charles Koch Because The Only Offer Was A Joint Interview With The President Of The United Negro College Fund Michael Lomax. According to The Huffington Post, “The Washington Post published an ‘exclusive interview’ on Tuesday with Charles Koch, the press-shy billionaire industrialist, who, along with his brother David, is a major backer of conservative causes. The Post was offered the sit-down with Koch as part of a joint interview with Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund. The New York Times was also offered a joint interview with the two men but turned down the opportunity, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Times wanted to talk just to Koch, who rarely speaks to the media, the sources said, but was only offered the joint interview.” [The Huffington Post, 8/5/15]