If the press can be bought by the US, that is not an indictment of the US , but an indictment of the press IMO.
Great as a free press is, and it is great, some of the individuals involved seem to think it is a licence to sell favours.
Journalists, Lawyers and Politicians all languish at the bottom of public respect for profession tables in the UK. Unsurprising when they all take money to tell a story and present it as the truth. Often it will only be part of the truth.