A few days ago, I was contacted by a senior reporter with Bild, a major German tabloid. To be clear, Bild does serious reporting, and it’s Europe’s highest-circulation newspaper. Bild has previously reported embarrassing things about Rama, including wiretaps showing the prime minister’s involvement in vote-buying and blackmail.

I was happy to answer Bild’s questions about Albania, based on my Washington Examiner articles and the fact that I was a top Balkan expert for the National Security Agency. I confirmed that Albania, under Rama, has become Europe’s leading narco-state with connections to narcotrafficking interests across the planet. …

However, the Bild reporter informed me, with surprise and dismay, that top editors had killed the story (which included comments from others besides myself, such as top German security experts). When I asked why, the reporter informed me that Bild leadership explained that “Washington stands by Rama,” and therefore, the report cannot run.

Rama’s influence in Germany is real.

[So is Biden’s, apparently. It’s yet another instance of the Protection Racket Media circling wagons around favored politicians, especially Biden. And it’s not limited to the American mainstream media, either. — Ed]