smear campaign

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the story as a smear campaign.

Albanese has been a prominent critic of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, and has been subject to sanctions imposed by the US in July - a decision welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who called them a "firm measure against the mendacious smear campaign" against Israel.

They also claimed the remark was "taken out of all context" and that they were victims of a smear campaign due to their stance on Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli PM Netanyahu welcomed the decision, calling it a "firm measure against the mendacious smear campaign against" Israel.

In her claim, Crowley alleges Bass and her subordinates have conducted a “public smear campaign aimed at discrediting Crowley’s character and decades of service,” following her dismissal.