MONROVIA – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has expressed alarm over recent threats by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Richard Koon, warning journalists that they could be “grabbed” or “jailed” for recording proceedings in the House chamber. The threats, made during a session on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, were widely condemned as an attempt to intimidate the media and undermine press freedom in Liberia. In a statement released Wednesday, November 26, 2025, PUL President Julius Kanubah described the Speaker’s remarks as part of a growing wave of hostility toward journalists in the country.
During the incident, Speaker Koon cautioned journalists covering the House against recording exchanges before the official plenary session had been constituted. “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…When we catch your, your will not believe it,” the Speaker warned, according to the PUL statement. The tone and content of the remarks sent shockwaves through the journalistic community and were immediately criticized as threatening and anti-democratic.
The PUL described the threats as evidence of a mindset that seeks to weaponize state power to intimidate, harass, and restrict journalists, effectively denying the public access to information about government operations. “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,” Kanubah said, emphasizing the media’s constitutional right to report on legislative activities without fear of reprisal.
While the motive behind Speaker Koon’s remarks remains unclear, the PUL warned that such incidents reflect a persistent reliance on authoritarian tactics by public officials intent on silencing the press. The organization stressed that attempts to curtail media freedoms represent a serious step backward for democracy and transparency in Liberia, undermining the public’s right to know and the accountability of elected officials.
Following the incident, PUL leadership engaged directly with the Speaker’s office through his Media Adviser, Vehzelee Sumo, and held meetings with the House Committee Chairman on Information and Broadcasting, Representative Emmanuel Dahn, and the Director of the House Press Bureau, Robert Haynes. Officials from the Speaker’s office assured the PUL that the statement was made without malice and that there was no intention to muzzle the press. Representative Dahn added that the Speaker considered his remarks to have been “a joke.”
Despite these assurances, the Press Union maintained that a “joke” or statement “without malice” does not excuse remarks that undermine press freedom. The PUL demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from Speaker Koon to demonstrate accountability and remorse. “The press must remain unbending in its pursuit of public interest stories from the Legislature,” the statement concluded, highlighting the critical role of independent reporting in a democratic society.
Amid growing criticism, Speaker Koon issued a formal apology to the legislative press corps, acknowledging that his remarks had created tension and embarrassment for both the government and the Liberian people. “Let me apologize for the tension we created that caused embarrassment for the government and you, the Liberian people,” he said. Journalists, however, have stressed that consistent respect for press rights is necessary to prevent similar incidents.
The incident drew condemnation from the Legislative Press Pool (LEGISPOOL), which described Speaker Koon’s threats as “an assault on and an aggression against” constitutional guarantees of press freedom. Observers noted that the episode highlights the ongoing vulnerability of media rights in Liberia and the continued risk of intimidation faced by journalists covering government activities.
The PUL emphasized that the Speaker’s threats are part of a broader pattern of hostility toward journalists in the country, with verbal assaults on media personnel becoming increasingly frequent. The organization insisted that public officials must understand that freedom of expression and the public’s right to information are non-negotiable pillars of Liberia’s democratic framework.
