Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
ancwr@anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
August 8, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
UPDATE: POLICE INVESTIGATE MEMPHIS CONGRESSMAN STEVE COHEN CLASH WITH
ARMENIAN AMERICAN JOURNALIST
— Cohen Forcibly Removed Reporter from Press Conference on Eve of
Democratic Primary
MEMPHIS, TN – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has
learned that Capitol Hill Police and local Memphis law enforcement
have launched separate investigations of Congressman Steve Cohen’s
forced removal of Armenian American journalist Peter Musurlian from an
August 6th press conference, reported Armenian National Committee of
America – Western Region (ANCA – Western Region).
Musurlian reportedly spoke with officers from the Memphis Police
Department as well as Capitol Hill police, describing Rep. Cohen’s
angry tirade and physical attack on the reporter. Memphis television
and radio stations provided extensive coverage of the altercation,
along with Rep. Cohen’s subsequent ethnic slurs directed at Armenian
Americans.
"Rep. Cohen’s violent and bizarre actions against Musurlian are, taken
in the most charitable light possible, conduct ill-befitting a Member
of Congress," stated ANCA Western Region Board Chairman Vicken
Sonentz-Papazian. "We know of at least two ongoing criminal
investigations and I suspect the House of Representatives will be
instituting disciplinary proceedings against Rep. Cohen for both his
criminal assault and defamatory remarks toward the Armenian American
community once Congress returns. Equally disturbing is Rep. Cohen’s
characterization of both Musurlian, a veteran of the U.S. Armed
Forces, and Armenian Americans as killers and assassins. This
incident raises serious question as to whether this man is fit to
remain a Member of Congress," concluded Sonentz-Papazian.
Musurlian, who served as a journalist for the U.S. Armed Forces
covering the conflicts in Bosnia and Croatia, traveled to Memphis to
document the days leading up to the August 7th Democratic primary
between first-term incumbent Steve Cohen and challenger, former civil
rights lawyer, Nikki Tinker, for LA based Horizon Armenian Television.
Musurlian works for a public access TV station in Burbank,
California, in addition to running his own production company,
Globalist Films.
Following a series of unanswered interview requests filed earlier this
week, Musurlian attended several Cohen public events on Tuesday
evening, documenting his campaign activities and looking for an
opportunity to speak with the Congressman. Musurlian’s efforts to
participate in a Wednesday press conference, hastily called by Cohen
at his own residence, were cut short when a volatile and clearly
agitated Cohen forcibly shoved Musurlian out the door, slamming it in
frustration. He then instructed his aides to throw Musurlian’s tripod
at the journalist.
Throughout the process, Cohen made disparaging references to
Musurlian’s ethnicity, referring to him repeatedly as "that Armenian
guy" and Armenian-Americans as "those Armenians," going so far as to
generalize Armenians as assassins and killers. "There have been
Armenians who assassinated and killed many people including people in
this country," stated Rep. Cohen, "and I don’t rest very comfortable
with one of these fellows coming into my home."
The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations
around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.