Speaker’s ‘Jail’ Threats Ignite Press Freedom Alarm -As PUL Condemns Utterance

MONROVIA – A chilling exchange in the halls of the House of Representatives has sent a jolt of alarm through the nation’s media landscape. The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) is demanding an immediate public apology from House Speaker Richard Koon after he verbally threatened journalists with being “grabbed” and “jailed” for recording non-plenary exchanges in the legislative chamber.

In a press release issued yesterday and signed by its President, Julius Kanubah, the incident, which the PUL saw as a “frightening manifestation of the steadily increasing hostility towards journalists in Liberia,” unfolded on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 where Speaker Koon, in a highly disparaging tone, issued a stark warning to the journalists covering the House.

The Speaker’s words, captured in the PUL’s release, were unambiguous and aggressive

“To the press, this session is not legal yet. Anything you record from here, we will deal with you.

This session is not legal yet until we get quorum. We didn’t ask your not to be doing your recording while we’re doing our talking oooo. Your take anything from here, when we grab your, when we don’t put your in jail, your mon [should] change my name. This session must be legal by quorum. This joke where we’re joking here, your record now to start talking nonsense; when we catch your, your will not believe it,” warned Speaker Koon.

The PUL views this aggressive posturing as a “clearly dangerous mindset” by a powerful public official seeking to “weaponize state power by intimidating, harassing and molesting journalists,” thereby restricting the public’s constitutional right to know.

The Union strongly countered the Speaker’s assertion that recording pre-session exchanges was prohibited. The PUL emphasized that Article 15 of the Constitution of Liberia guarantees freedom of the press, and every open session in the Chamber—regardless of whether official quorum has been met—bears the nature of privileged information legally subject to journalistic coverage.

“Speaker Koon must be told that every open session in the Chamber of the House of Representatives bears the nature of privileged information, legally allowing journalistic coverage under Article 15 of the Constitution of Liberia, which guarantees freedom of the press, with no limitation on the public right to be informed about the government and its functionaries”, the statement said.

The threats, the PUL stated, signal a dangerous attempt by certain officials to employ “old authoritarian tactics” aimed at “returning Liberia to the dark old days of silencing the press to enhance the culture of secrecy and unaccountability.”

In the immediate wake of the incident, PUL President Julius Kanubah acted swiftly, holding in-person meetings on Wednesday with the Speaker’s Office, represented by Media Adviser Vehzelee Sumo, along with Representative Emmanuel Dahn, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Broadcasting, and Robert Haynes, Director of the House Press Bureau.

The Speaker’s office provided assurance to the PUL that the “statement was made without malice” and that he has “no intention to muzzle the press.” Chairman Dahn attempted to downplay the severity, claiming the Speaker made the remark “out of joke.”

However, the PUL remains resolute. The Union has rejected the explanation, stating unequivocally that ‘Joke or no joke’, ‘with or without malice,’ the remarks were “uncouth anti-press” and constituted a profound threat to democracy.

The PUL is standing firm on its demand, which is an immediate retraction and public apology by Speaker Koon as the only acceptable sign of his remorsefulness.

In a concluding call to action, the PUL has urged all journalists covering the House of Representatives to remain “unbending in their pursuit of public interest stories” from the Legislature, upholding their vital role as a core pillar of public accountability in Liberia.