• Catoblepas
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      3 months ago

      It’s in quotes because it’s directly quoting someone (the USAID official).

      • snooggums@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        18
        ·
        3 months ago

        What they said was accurate and doesn’t need quotes around a single word unless it is implying that it might not literally be true. If they had said ‘illegal purge’ then sure, the quotes would make sense because purge isn’t defined in law.

        The person also said refused but that word isn’t in quotes. That was literally true and didn’t need quotes either.

        “I refused and have provided Acting Administrator [Jason] Gray with written notification of my refusal,” Gottlieb continued. “I have recommended in that written notification that his office cease and desist from further illegal activity.”