Washington Post editor resigns, accuses CEO of killing column critical of owner Jeff Bezos

A Washington Post opinion editor and columnist resigned on Monday, after she accused the outlet's CEO of pulling her column that criticized Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Bezos told the outlet last month that the opinion section would be writing "in support and defense” of “personal liberties and free markets," every day, instead of allowing editors to approve pitches from columnists that specifically interest them.

Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus criticized the new order in her resignation letter to Bezos and CEO Will Lewis, claiming the new directive would "break the trust of the readers," by having columnists write what the owner wants and not what they necessarily believe.

"Will's decision to not run the column that I wrote respectfully dissenting from Jeff's edict — something that I have not experienced in almost two decades of column-writing — underscores that the traditional freedom of columnists to select topics they wish to address and say what they think has been dangerously eroded," Marcus wrote, per The New York Times.

"I love the Post," she continued. "It breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave. I have the deepest affection and admiration for my colleagues and will miss them every day. And I wish you both the best as you steer this storied and critical institution through troubled times."

Marcus' departure comes after opinion editor David Shipley also left the company over the new order. Marcus had worked at the Washington Post as an associate editor and columnist since 1984.

"We’re grateful for Ruth’s significant contributions to The Washington Post over the past 40 years," a spokesperson for the outlet told NBC News. "We respect her decision to leave and wish her the best.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.