White House says beheaded US journalist not 'sold' to Islamic State
WASHINGTON - The United States has no information indicating beheaded American journalist Steven Sotloff was "sold" to Islamic State militants by moderate Syrian opposition rebels, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Tuesday.
Sotloff family spokesman Barak Barfi told CNN on Monday night the family believed Islamic State paid up to $50,000 to rebels who told the militant group the 31-year-old journalist had entered Syria.
"Based on the information that has been provided to me, I don't believe that is accurate," Earnest told a news briefing.
