White House Bans CNN Reporter
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Now....it really has gone too far.
The White House decided to ban CNN Reporter Kaitlan Collins because they did not like the questions she asked or how she asked them.
Poynter writes that Collins was the "press pool" TV reporter at a Wednesday Oval Office photo opportunity.
Pool reporters and photographers turn over whatever they gather to all of the other media outlets; they "pool" whatever they get. Pool journalists commonly lob questions to the president, who can answer or ignore. It is an everyday practice that has gone on for decades.
During the event, Collins posed some questions about the two big topics of the day: Vladimir Putin and Michael Cohen. She asked:
"Did Michael Cohen betray you, Mr. President?"
"Mr. President, did Michael Cohen betray you?"
"Mr. President, are you worried about what Michael Cohen is about to say to the prosecutors?"
"Are you worried about what is on other tapes, Mr. President?"
"Why is Valdimir Putin not accepting your invitation?"
Trump didn't respond and later the White House called an open press event with the president and Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission. The entire White House press corp was invited— everyone but Kaitlan Collins.
She was told to come see Bill Shine and Sarah Sanders, the new White House chief of staff for communications and the White House press secretary.
Collins quoted the duo as telling her, "They said that the questions I asked were inappropriate for that venue. And they said I was shouting." She quoted Sanders as saying, "We're not banning your network. Your photographers can still come. Your producers can still come. But you are not invited to the Rose Garden today."
The White Released this statement:
If you are trying to pick and choose who gets to cover the President, then NO, you do not stand or support a free press.
This is the kind of action you would expect to see from Russia's Vladimir Putin, not in the United States. Oh Wait! Hmmmmmm?
Other media outlets quickly came to the defense of CNN.
“We stand in strong solidarity with CNN for the right to full access for our journalists as part of a free and unfettered press,” said Jay Wallace, President, FOX News.
Tom Winter from NBC News:
The Washington Post:
