Its author discredited, a new book on the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya should be treated as a work of fiction, the liberal Media Matters for America said Friday.
In a letter that was provided to TPM, MMA chairman David Brock wrote that, in the wake of CBS News’ decision to retract its report centered around details in the book, publication of “The Embassy House” should be “halted immediately” or reprinted “indicating that it is a work of fiction.”
Brock also called for a “thorough investigation” into how author Dylan Davies’ purported eye-witness account “was vetted and by whom.”
The letter (posted below) will be sent to the chief exectives at CBS, Simon & Schuster and Threshold.
On Friday, CBS correspondent Lara Logan admitted that the report was a “mistake.”
Mr. Les Moonves
President and CEO, CBS Corporation
Ms. Carolyn Reidy
President and Chief Executive Officer, Simon and Schuster
Ms. Louise Burke
Executive Vice President and Publisher, ThresholdGreetings,
I am writing to express my concern about the veracity of The Embassy House, a purported non-fiction first-hand account of the attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi released by Threshold Editions and authored by Dylan Davies, writing under the pseudonym Sgt. Morgan Jones, and Damien Lewis.
On 60 Minutes, Davies told CBS correspondent Lara Logan he had “scaled the twelve-foot high wall of the compound that was still overrun with al Qaeda fighters” on the night of the attack, struck one of those terrorists in the face with his rifle butt, and went to the Benghazi hospital where he saw Ambassador Chris Stevens’ body. Following revelations by The Washington Post that Davies had previously said he was nowhere near the diplomatic compound the night of the attack, I called on CBS to retract its story and for an independent committee to probe all aspects of how the story was reported.
On November 7, 60 Minutes released a statement that they had “learned of new information that undercuts” Davies’ account of his actions on the night of the attacks. Given this new information, serious questions must also be raised about Davies’ book, The Embassy House, recently released by Threshold Editions, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, which is a part of CBS Corporation, which owns 60 Minutes — a fact not disclosed in the 60 Minutes story.
Your spokesperson, Jennifer Robinson, told The New York Times that in light of revelations that the F.B.I. report is not consistent with the story that Davies wrote, Threshold “will review the book and take appropriate action with regard to its publication status.”
Given that Logan has indicated that 60 Minutes will “correct the record on our broadcast on Sunday night,” I believe that appropriate action from Threshold would include:
- Conducting a thorough investigation into how Davies’ story was vetted and by whom
- Halting publication of the book immediately
- Reprinting the book indicating that it is a work of fiction
In my most recent book, The Benghazi Hoax, I chronicled how the media has repeatedly bungled the facts about Benghazi attacks turning a night of terror into a phony scandal. The 60 Minutes report raised serious ethical questions for CBS. Likewise, publication of The Embassy House as non-fiction also raises serious red flags.
I hope you take this opportunity to reassure readers of your standards and accountability.
Sincerely,
David Brock
Chairman, Media Matters for America
