Lawyer Hotman Paris apologizes to journalists after being criticized for demeaning remarks

Prominent lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea has issued a public apology to journalists and their organizations in Indonesia following widespread criticism for his demeaning remarks during a press conference. The lawyer, representing a suspect in a corruption case involving former Jampidsus Febrie Adriansyah, was heard questioning journalists' intelligence and telling them to be silent.

During a press conference at the Attorney General's Office on July 17, Hotman's statements, including phrases like 'do you have a brain?' and labeling journalists as 'cowards' for not questioning the National Police headquarters, drew sharp condemnation. These remarks were made in response to questions about alleged hidden agendas in the Febrie Adriansyah case.

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My apology, Hotman Paris. In connection with the appeal from the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and other journalist colleagues. I hereby express my deepest apologies for my statement during the press conference on the former Jampidsus case where I said 'don't you have a brain?'.

Hotman explained that his outburst stemmed from emotional distress after being pressed with two consecutive questions. He stated that he had already indicated his inability to answer the first question regarding an institution's hidden agenda. The second question, posed before he had finished addressing the first, triggered his emotional reaction.

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I finally got emotional because I had repeatedly said I didn't know. So I answered, 'Don't you have a brain?' My meaning was, I already said I didn't know. Because I couldn't possibly know about the hidden agenda of a law enforcement institution.

"I finally got emotional because I had repeatedly said I didn't know. So I answered, 'Don't you have a brain?' My meaning was, I already said I didn't know. Because I couldn't possibly know about the hidden agenda of a law enforcement institution," Hotman said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

Despite his explanation, Hotman reiterated his apology, emphasizing his long-standing close relationship with the media. He expressed regret for his words, acknowledging that they were inappropriate, regardless of the circumstances. Several journalist organizations, including the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI), had strongly condemned Hotman's statements, deeming them disrespectful to the journalistic profession.

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But regardless of the actual facts of the incident, at that time we were both emotional, I still offer my apologies to those journalists and to all journalist organizations throughout Indonesia because I have also been very close to all journalists.