There was new-word out of the State Department on Wednesday involving developments in the bizarre case where U.S. and Canadian diplomats to the communist country of Cuba, came down with mysterious ailments. With questions swirling of possible permanent brain damage with “some” of those affected, NBC chose to skip over the disturbing story in favor for a story about charities canceling events at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
CBS News Radio was the first to break the story but during CBS Evening News, Anchor Anthony Mason only the update a short news brief towards the latter part of the program. “We have an update on the story of American and Canadian diplomats in Cuba who it is believed were targets of a sonic attack,” he announced. “Now an American doctor has diagnosed some with mild traumatic brain injury and likely damage to the central nervous system.”
ABC’s World News Tonight’s report reflected the grave nature of the news and dedicated a full story to it during the show’s A-block.
“We have reported here on several U.S. officials working in Cuba, suffering symptoms so serious they were rushed home for treatment,” began Anchor David Muir. “At one point, it was blamed on some sort of sonic device. Well, tonight the State Department is now being asked: Did any of the workers suffer from traumatic brain injury?”
In a press conference on Wednesday, State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that “this is unprecedented. We have not seen this type of activity take place before.” “The best equipment is not going to necessarily be on the ground in Cuba. We are bringing people to the best medical experts on the mainland in the United States,” she added, talking about their medical evacuation and the treatment the victims were receiving.
Although the State Department wouldn’t confirm the details of the reported brain damage, ABC’s Oquendo did have information on other troubling injuries. “Now sources are telling our Miami station, WPLG, those symptoms included memory loss, loss of balance, and vision issues,” he reported. “Experts tell ABC News that sound waves above and below the range of human hearing could potentially cause permanent damage.”
In response to the attack on U.S. diplomats, the federal government had expelled two Cuban officials from their embassy in Washington, D.C.
So despite the disturbing new details of a mysterious “sonic attack” on U.S. government personnel, NBC Nightly News touted the charities that were pulling out of plans to hold their events at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago report, which could cost the Trump organization $1 million. Ignoring the incident was something NBC had done previously when the story first broke in early August.
Transcript below:
CBS Evening News
August 23, 2017
6:52:39 PM EasternANTHONY MASON: We have an update on the story of American and Canadian diplomats in Cuba who it is believed were targets of a sonic attack. It now appears some of them suffered serious injuries. Executive Editor Steve Dorsey of CBS News Radio broke the story. Diplomats working in Havana started complaining last year about hearing loss and headaches. Now an American doctor has diagnosed some with mild traumatic brain injury and likely damage to the central nervous system. The Cuban government denies any involvement.
...
ABC
World News Tonight
August 23, 2017
6:36:36 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: Next tonight, to that diplomatic mystery now deepening. We have reported here on several U.S. officials working in Cuba, suffering symptoms so serious they were rushed home for treatment. At one point, it was blamed on some sort of sonic device. Well, tonight the State Department is now being asked: Did any of the workers suffer from traumatic brain injury? Tonight's Victor Oquendo from Miami tonight.
[Cuts to video]
VICTOR OQUENDO: Tonight new details about the mysterious illness that sickened American officials in Cuba.
HEATHER NAUERT: This is unprecedented. We have not seen this type of activity take place before.
OQUENDO: The State Department revealing today that some of those Americans had to be medically evacuated to Miami for treatment and testing.
NAUERT: The best equipment is not going to necessarily be on the ground in Cuba. We are bringing people to the best medical experts on the mainland in the United States.
OQUENDO: Starting in December of 2016, sources say it appears some officials were exposed to a sonic device in Havana that caused serious health problems and physical symptoms including hearing loss. Now sources are telling our Miami station, WPLG, those symptoms included memory loss, loss of balance, and vision issues. Experts tell ABC News that sound waves above and below the range of human hearing could potentially cause permanent damage. The state department today pressed on a report that some officials were diagnosed with injuries as severe as brain injury.
NAUERT: I'm not going to confirm the medical status of any U.S. government personnel. But what has happened there is of great concern to the U.S. government.
OQUENDO: The U.S. has responded by expelling two Cuban diplomats earlier this year. The secretary of state recently calling it an attack and demanding answers.
REX TILLERSON: We hold the Cuban authorities responsible for finding out who is carrying out these health attacks on not just our diplomats, but as you've seen now there are other cases with other diplomats as well.
[Cuts back to live]
OQUENDO: David, the Cuban government has denied any involvement. Right now U.S. officials say they have no idea what this was or who was behind it, David.
MUIR: Victor Oquendo in Miami. Thank you, Victor.
