Sens. Cruz, Rubio, Cotton, Rep. Zeldin Welcome Al Jazeera’s Registration Under FARA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) today issued the following statement following reports that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would require Qatari-owned media company, Al Jazeera, to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA):

"Americans have a right to know what news networks or entities are acting on behalf of a foreign government and attempting to influence U.S. public opinion. The recent decision ordering Qatari-owned Al Jazeera to register under FARA is long overdue. We have previously joined our colleagues in calling for this action and commend the Department of Justice for taking this important step to bring transparency to foreign news outlets operating in the U.S."

FARA requires individuals and organizations to register with the Department of Justice if they are acting on behalf of a foreign government or enterprise to influence U.S. policy or public opinion. The law is designed to promote transparency rather than explicitly prohibit forms of speech.

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