Dennis Kucinich Reportedly Interviews Syrian President Assad

Update, 9/18: Fox News confirmed to TheBlaze that Kucinich did in fact interview Assad with Senior Correspondent Greg Palkot. The interview is set to air during a two-hour special edition of "Special Report."

Here is a statement from Fox News:

On Saturday, Sept. 7, FOX News contributor Dennis Kucinich advised me that he believed he could secure an interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he had met on previous occasions. At the time, it appeared that an American military attack on Syria was imminent, and I decided that Kucinich should pursue the interview, on condition that FOX News journalists would also be included. We were presented with an opportunity for access to a volatile part of the world and felt that footage of Assad speaking would be of unique news value.

Over the course of the next 10 days, the situation in Syria changed drastically. When our interview with President Assad finally took place on Sept. 17, Russia’s proposal to secure Syrian chemical weapons had, temporarily, reduced the likelihood of an American attack.

The interview, shot by agreement by a Syrian camera crew, was conducted with no restrictions on the questions that could be asked. FOX News Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent Greg Palkot, a veteran of Middle East coverage, conducted the interview beside Kucinich and I was present in the control room and studio at the Presidential Palace in Damascus for the duration. Kucinich was not there in the capacity of a journalist nor was he representing FOX News in that role.

Given the change in circumstances between first learning of the possibility of an interview and the actual event, we believe our crew performed admirably.

--

Former Democratic Congressman and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich reportedly interviewed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday.

Kucinich, now a contributor with Fox News, conducted the interview with Assad on Tuesday, according to Sunday Times reporter Hala Jaber.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/HalaJaber/status/380033513820782592"]

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/HalaJaber/status/380045686819291136"]

ITV, a UK media outlet, also reported the news.

If Kucinich in fact interviewed Assad, he would be the second American journalist to sit down with the Syrian president in recent weeks.

(H/T: BuzzFeed)

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

--

[related]