Reporters complained on Tuesday that they were no longer allowed to interview senators in the Capitol without prior approval of the Senate Rules Committee.
The Capitol and congressional office buildings are home to a robust press corps that has the ability to access most of the complex. Reporters from print, television and radio media are free to question members of the House and Senate in certain areas as they move between their offices, hearings and chamber floors. TV reporters regularly conduct live interviews with senators in the hallways. Members of Congress who don’t wish to participate are free to continue walking or turn down interview requests.
ALERT: Reporters at Capitol have been told they are not allow to film interviews with senators in hallways, contrary to years of precedent
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
CONDITIONS for any interview: Previously granted permission from senator AND Rules Committee of Senate
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 13, 2017
Senate Rules Committee Chair Richard Shelby, R-Ala., announced Tuesday no such rules change had even been implemented.
#Break: New statement from Rules Committee Chairman Richard Shelby. Says “no changes to existing rules” https://t.co/BNiAqzWJlJ pic.twitter.com/KSz3VbUuCs
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) June 13, 2017
Reports of Tuesdays’ decision came on a busy day on Capitol Hill, with multiple cabinet secretaries testifying on their agencies’ budgets and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appear publicly to testify on alleged Russia ties. The Senate and House are both conducting investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, as is the FBI.
The Republican-controlled Senate is also quietly working on its version of a health care bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. The House passed its version last month but the two chambers must agree on one text before the bill can be sent to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
The Senate wants to vote on its bill before the July 4 recess, which leaves them three weeks to finish a draft and rally enough votes to pass it. Republicans have said they will not be publicly releasing the text of the bill. The party campaigned on a promise to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature legislation and replace it with a different bill.
NBC's coverage teams & other TV outlets were waiting to get reactions from senators at several hearings when we were told to evacuate halls https://t.co/69dR5ouUk7
— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaNBCNews) June 13, 2017
Trump has routinely attacked what he calls the “mainstream media” and derided stories he considers unflattering to him or Republicans as “fake news.” The New York Times reported that Trump suggested former FBI Director James Comey jail journalists for reporting classified information. The president has been incensed by the stream of leaks coming out of the administration in relation to the ongoing investigation into potential ties between his campaign and Russia.
Reporters took to Twitter to protest the new restriction that would significantly limit their access to lawmakers.
I was just told I cannot stand outside of the Budget Committee hearing room to interview lawmakers. https://t.co/gBdkztGLfO
— Kevin Cirilli (@kevcirilli) June 13, 2017
NEW: The Sen Rules Cmte now wants us to request approval from them for EVERY on-cam interview of a Senator in the hallway we want to conduct
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) June 13, 2017
Senate Rules Committee and @SenateSAA trying to SHUT DOWN press access in halls. No more staking out hearings without permission. Not OK.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 13, 2017
Which means that if a senator wants to avoid an interview, they can make the nameless, faceless committee reject a journalist's request. https://t.co/mJ3OE0k3Qj
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) June 13, 2017
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