Earlier this week, Laura Loomer asserted that she had discovered evidence that Tucker Carlson and his digital start-up, Tucker Carlson Network, had accepted money in exchange for an interview with officials from Qatar regarding “war with Iran.” The network is strongly disputing that claim.
Loomer said that Foreign Agents Registration Act data shows that the State of Qatar paid Tucker Carlson $200,000 for an interview.
“Tucker Carlson wants you to think his thoughts on Iran are based and original, but he’s literally participating in paid for interviews by the Qataris, who are funding and providing pent houses and luxury lifestyles to the leaders of HAMAS in Doha,” Loomer wrote. “Tucker should just be honest that he’s a mouthpiece for genocidal Muslims. His media company was literally funded by a MUSLIM investor who is half Pakistani and half Iranian and who spends a lot of time in Qatar.
“And trust me when I say a lot of people in pro-Trump circles are very uncomfortable with this. Tucker is controlled by Muslims. People need to wake up and stop pretending like this is a conspiracy theory.”
In a rebuttal published on social media, Neil Patel, who co-founded both The Daily Caller and Tucker Carlson Network alongside the former cable news host, made it clear in no uncertain terms the accusations from Loomer were false.
“Allegations that Tucker Carlson or Tucker Carlson Network took money from any foreign country for an interview or for any other reason are categorically and definitively false and defamatory,” Patel wrote. “Neither Tucker nor TCN has ever taken a penny from Qatar or any foreign country. To the contrary, TCN bought out all its investors last March to achieve total and absolute independence. Almost no other major media company can make that claim.
“There are no more consequential debates than issues of war and peace,” Patel continued. “Thousands and even millions of lives could be at stake. Like his views or not, Tucker is an open book. He gives his opinions daily and openly, along with all the reasoning behind them. He’s proven repeatedly that he’s willing to debate anyone about those opinions. Those choosing to lie about him and question his motives instead of just debating him on the merits are just proving the weakness of their case.
In the file from Loomer purporting to be proof of the payment, no dollar figure is listed for the February interview. Patel responded by stating that the document is actually from a filing related to a group known as Lumen8Advisors that had registered to work for Qatar.
“This contract and filing has nothing to do with us. Tucker and TCN have never accepted any foreign money, Qatari or otherwise,” stated Patel.
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