This week's edition of Confider brought to light the allegations against freelance photographer William Moon, who was warned about taking inappropriate photos of female reporters and staffers at the White House. Multiple complaints were made over the years, leading to a confrontation by a member of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) board.
Samantha Green, one of the female journalists affected by Moon's behavior, stated that "It is utterly disappointing that we have to deal with such misconduct in our professional environment."
Last year, Moon was removed from an official mailing list after receiving warnings from the press office regarding his actions. Further controversy arose when he publicly shared off-record planning emails on his Twitter account not once but twice.
William Moon gained attention for capturing an image of former President Donald Trump in 2020 that appeared to show a fake tan line as Trump walked across the South Lawn. Despite this recognition, his alleged behavior towards fellow professionals has raised concerns within both journalism and political circles.
The Biden administration has been working on tightening rules for hard passes while also trying not to give any impression of directly punishing White House-based journalists. Mark Daniels, another reporter covering Washington politics said: "It's important for us as journalists and photographers alike to maintain integrity and respect boundaries in our profession."
As discussions continue around appropriate conduct within journalistic spaces like the White House press pool, it remains unclear what further action may be taken against individuals like William Moon or how new policies will impact future incidents.