Nebraska Governor Faces Backlash For Dismissing Investigative Report Due To Journalist's Nationality

Growing backlash for governor's dismissal of investigative report highlights concerns over drinking water safety and reporter's rights.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen faced backlash for dismissing an investigative report due to the journalist's Chinese nationality. The report by Yanqi Xu, a reporter for The Flatwater Free Press, found high nitrate levels at Pillen's hog farms, posing potential environmental and health risks.
While Pillen did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the report's findings, he dismissed the article in a radio interview, claiming he didn't and wouldn't read it because the reporter was "from Communist China." This response drew extensive criticism for not addressing the issue and attacking the reporter's nationality.
Xu spent over a year investigating the rising nitrate levels in Nebraska. The findings indicated that Pillen's farms had nitrate levels five times higher than what the federal government considers safe to drink, raising concerns about the quality of Nebraska's drinking water.
Despite the governor's comments, Xu expressed her commitment to her work and tentative plans to stay in the U.S. with a visa for individuals demonstrating "extraordinary ability." She emphasized the importance of revealing the potential threat to Nebraska's drinking water.
The Asian American Journalists Association, among others, publicly supported Xu, denouncing comments that might exacerbate xenophobia or prejudice. Matt Wynn, Executive Director of the Nebraska Journalism Trust, also expressed his support for Xu, calling her a courageous and remarkable reporter.