Colorado political reporter’s expulsion from Republican rally sparks uproar

DENVER (AP) – Colorado politicians and news organizations will be shut down this weekend by an experienced political reporter who was told the state party chairman “believes the current coverage is deeply unfair.” He expressed anger at being kicked out of a Republican rally.

Journalists and prominent politicians, including the former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, defended Colorado Sun reporter Sandra Fish and current state Republican Party chairman Dave Williams said there was “no apology” for ousting Mr. Fish. opposed Mr.

The controversy follows the contours of attacks on news organizations nationwide, sparked in part by former President Donald Trump’s popularization of the term “fake news.” The expulsion also appears to have affected support in Monday’s Republican primary.

The state Republican Party announced on social media platform Part of the reason is that “Deb Flora lied about her participation in the CD4 Congress.” And now she’s lambasting fake journalists who only help Democrats. ”

The post was a direct response to Flora’s post about Fish defending X, in which Flora said the ban was “wrong and in violation of the First Amendment.”

The chairman, who introduces himself on the state Republican Party’s website as “Dave ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Williams,” is nominated to run for the 5th District seat held by outgoing Republican state Rep. Doug Lamborn. I’m looking for.

Williams, a MAGA supporter, said in a written statement that he will not apologize for kicking Fish out of Pueblo’s council on Saturday, calling Fish a “fake journalist” and calling the Colorado Sun biased. he accused. Williams did not respond to a text request for an example. The Colorado Sun is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization covering Colorado.

“If you have any examples of the Colorado Sun or Sandra Fish being unfair or inaccurate, please share them with us. So far, we have not heard anything,” said News Media Editor. Larry Rickman said. “The Founding Fathers weren’t big fans of newspapers back then. But they understood that a healthy democracy requires a free and unfettered press.”

The rally, about two hours south of Denver, was aimed at electing representatives to the Republican National Committee and developing a party platform for the election.

“There are 900,000 Republicans in Colorado and a lot of independent voters who are interested in what happens in this Congress. And how do they know that? We have reporters coming to cover it,” Fish told The Associated Press by phone Monday.

“As one person on Twitter pointed out, I’m a little old lady who’s been in this business a long time, and I don’t think it’s right to kick reporters out of meetings like this,” Fish said. Told. She’s been covering politics since 1982.

Fish said he heard rumors before the event that he would be banned from attending, and asked event organizer Eric Grossman to contact him via email on Thursday.

“Thank you. I have covered these assemblies for at least 7 cycles and have never had a problem,” Fish replied in a text message. Rickman said he tried to contact Williams Thursday night to discuss the matter, but Williams did not respond.

Before dawn Saturday, Grossman texted Fish that she would not be added to the list of reporters and that “the state chair believes the current coverage is extremely unfair.”

“I went anyway because it was supposed to be a public event,” Fish said. He was checked in and given a press pass around his neck along with a Colorado Sun name tag.

After about an hour, security asked her to leave. As Fish showed her press pass, Grossman arrived and sheriff’s deputies were called immediately. Fish left with her lieutenant.

“I make no apologies for kicking out the fake journalist who actually snuck into our event,” Williams said in a text message. “Her publication is just an extension of Democratic Party PR, and the only backlash we see is from the fake news media, radical Democrats, and establishment RINOs who hate our conservative base. It belongs to.”

Grossman said in a text that Fish’s actions were a “selfish political stunt.”

Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer defended the reporter in a post about X, writing: He is an honest and respected reporter, but as a Republican he is baffled by the Republican chairman. ”

Former Colorado Republican Party Chairwoman Christy Barton Brown echoed X, calling Fisch “tough but fair.” …This is a dangerous view from the incumbent (Colorado Republican Party). …Transparency is necessary for our country. ”

Among other articles, Mr. Fish describes how Mr. Williams’ Colorado Republican Party paid a mailman to subtly attack one of Mr. Williams’ main opponents, and how his fundraising efforts during his time as chairman It was reported that there was a stagnation.

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Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.