Larry Flynt appear on MSNBC's Hardball tonight, discussing his purchase of the semi-nude photographs of Jessica Lynch and why President Bush should get us out of Iraq.
Tuesday night a media frenzy began purchased when it was discovered that topless pictures of Pvt. Jessica Lynch partying with other soldiers had been purchased by Hustler publisher Larry Flynt.
“I purchased them at first with the intention of publishing them, however, I quickly changed my mind and decided simply to keep them out of circulation,” Flynt said in a statement.
Flynt purchased the photos from two soldiers, reportedly for a six-figure sum. Yesterday, Flynt called attention to the government’s attempt to portray Lynch as a “hero” to help “sell” the war, suggesting that as why the pictures had been sold to him, and why for a brief moment he considered publishing them.
Lynch, a supply clerk, was riding in a convoy when her company was ambushed near Nassiriya. Eleven soldiers died and nine were wounded. Army officials initially reported that Lynch fought desperately before being captured. Officials released a video showing her dramatic rescue from the Iraqi hospital by U.S. Special Forces.
“That unfairness and manipulation is part of what motivated the soldiers who sold me these pictures. Unfortunately, the media has gone along with the administration's attempt to force feed us this Joan of Arc,” Flynt said.
Virtually all aspects of the initial Jessica Lynch story have been discredited.
Her injuries were obtained when the vehicle she was riding in crashed, not from fighting in hand-to-hand combat as was originally reported. She was not mistreated by Iraqi doctors as was originally reported, and there was no need for the dramatic rescue that was filmed for television; the Iraqi forces had already evacuated the area, and her doctors had already attempted to return her to United States forces.
And Lynch herself has helped discredit the story. Lynch later said she had not fired a single bullet because her weapon jammed. She reported her doctors treated her well. And she issued a statement in support Army Spc. Shoshana Johnson, who received a much lower rating disability rating than Lynch.
Which is apparently why Flynt changed his mind about publishing the pictures.But Flynt will be giving more details about that tonight.
Hardball is hosted by Chris Matthew and airs at 7p.m. tonight.
