Channel 13 Correspondent Stayed Two Weeks at Lobbyist's Virginia Home

Channel 13 correspondent Suleiman Maswadeh resided for approximately two weeks last month at the Virginia home of American lobbyist Jay Footlik, even broadcasting from the property at least twice. The revelation comes from an investigation by Bar Peleg and Arno Rosenfeld published in Haaretz on Tuesday. Footlik, who has worked to advance Qatar's interests, is a central figure linked to the Qatar-gate investigation. Haaretz reported that the house is registered to Footlik, and its address was also used by his lobbying firm, Third Circle, which had dealings with the Qatari embassy in Washington.

Maswadeh stayed at the property shortly after relocating to the United States for his new role with Channel 13. Footlik has been connected in investigations to suspicions of transferring funds to Eli Feldstein, a former advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and promoting messages aimed at improving Qatar's image. Maswadeh himself previously testified to the police as part of the investigation into the affair when he was employed by the Public Broadcasting Corporation.

In response to the publication, Maswadeh stated that he and Footlik are long-time personal friends and that he paid for his stay. He described it as a temporary living arrangement made during his settling-in period in the U.S., not a benefit related to his journalistic work. Channel 13 commented to Haaretz that Maswadeh was staying in his friend's empty apartment to help him settle in the U.S., calling it a private matter unrelated to his work. The news company emphasized that Maswadeh did not cover Footlik, his businesses, or his clients, nor did he broadcast information originating from him. Nevertheless, they acknowledged that the correspondent "erred in judgment" but affirmed their support for him and his professional work.