Independent journalist Alex Berenson has accused his former employer, The New York Times, of stealing his reporting on the bombshell revelations about a Parkinson’s disease expert visiting the White House. Berenson claimed that the Times published a report on Dr. Kevin Cannard’s frequent visits to the White House without crediting him for breaking the story.
The controversy began when The New York Post first reported that Dr. Cannard, a neurologist from Walter Reed Military Medical Center specializing in Parkinson’s disease, had met with President Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, in January. Berenson later revealed that Cannard had visited the White House at least eight times since July 2023.
Berenson expressed his frustration with the lack of acknowledgment from The New York Times, stating that they “stole the whole story” and tried to hide their actions by lying about their sourcing. Despite the Times’ report running with the headline “Parkinson’s Expert Visited the White House Eight Times in Eight Months,” they failed to mention Berenson’s original reporting.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Berenson emphasized the importance of giving credit where it is due in journalism. He criticized the Times for suggesting that they had requested the visitor logs from the White House, a claim that was later removed from their report without explanation.
The White House has faced scrutiny over Cannard’s visits, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refusing to confirm whether Cannard had examined President Biden. White House physician Kevin O’Connor clarified that Cannard was chosen for Biden’s annual physicals due to his expertise as a neurologist, not specifically as a movement disorder specialist.
The Times has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations of plagiarism and lack of credit to Berenson. The controversy highlights the importance of journalistic ethics and giving proper attribution to sources.