Michael Isikoff

Michael Isikoff is an investigative journalist for the US-based magazine Newsweek. He joined the magazine as an investigative correspondent in June 1994 and has written extensively on the U.S. government?s war on terrorism, the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse, campaign-finance and congressional ethics abuses, presidential politics and other national issues.

Related Topics:
Newsweek - 1994 - Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse

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He had been prepared to break the Monica Lewinsky scandal, but several hours before going to print, the article was killed by top Newsweek executives. As a result, the story broke first on Matt Drudge's website the following morning. His book on the subject, Uncovering Clinton: A Reporter?s Story, was named Best Non-Fiction Book of 1999 by the Book of the Month Club.

Related Topics:
Monica Lewinsky - Newsweek - Matt Drudge - Book of the Month Club

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His online column ?Terror Watch,? won the 2005 award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best investigative reporting online. Isikoff was a part of the Newsweek team that won the Overseas Press Club?s most prestigious award, the 2001 Ed Cunningham Memorial Award for best magazine reporting from abroad for Newsweek?s coverage of the war on terror.

Related Topics:
Society of Professional Journalists - Investigative report - Overseas Press Club - War on terror

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In the May 9, 2005 issue of Newsweek, Isikoff wrote an article that stated that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay "in an attempt to rattle suspects, flushed a Qur'an down a toilet." Detainees had earlier made similar complaints but this was the first time a government source had appeared to confirm the story. The article caused widespread rioting and massive anti-American protests throughout some parts of the Islamic world (causing at least 17 deaths in Afghanistan). The magazine later retracted the story after enormous pressure, citing that their sole anonymous source could not remember important details.

Related Topics:
May 9 - 2005 - Guantanamo Bay - Qur'an - Islamic - Afghanistan - Anonymous

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On June 3, 2005, a U.S. official report confirmed incidents of desecration of the Qu'ran by U.S. personnel. The facts are not totally consistent with the Newsweek report, but the substance of the report was confirmed. The official report said the book was splashed with urine (perhaps unintentionally), and was kicked and stepped on.

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Since May 2005 he's been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

Related Topics:
May 2005 - The Huffington Post

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