Sheriff’s deputies have escorted reporters for years, drawing backlash from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and fellow journalists who criticized the move as an affront to democracy.
“It’s not fair to do this,” Fish said Monday. “My concern is that people only want to be presented with information that they agree with, and if they don’t agree with something, they want it hidden from the public. Democracy doesn’t work that way, no matter who is in charge.”
Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams, a Donald Trump supporter running for the U.S. House of Representatives, said he supports removal from office.
“I make no apologies for kicking out fake journalists,” Williams said in a text message Monday, echoing President Trump’s frequent use of the adjective “fake news.” Williams added that the Colorado Sun, a nonprofit news organization founded in 2018, is “just an extension of the Democratic Party’s public affairs operation.”
Williams declined to say what was unfair about Fish’s reporting.
Colorado Sun editor Larry Rickman said today is a “sad day when politicians decide who can and cannot report for the American people,” according to the paper. He defended Fish’s reporting, calling her an “experienced and accomplished journalist,” according to the Sun.
Fish, 66, has been a reporter since 1982. She has covered Colorado Democrats and Republicans for the past 20 years. Among her recent reporting details how the Colorado Republican Party, under Williams’ leadership, paid for mailers criticizing one of Williams’ main opponents in Congress and a Colorado Springs newspaper. It is stated. Last year, Fish reported on the state Republican Party’s fundraising woes.
Colorado has voted for Democratic candidates in the past four presidential elections. Williams has led the state Republican Party since March 2023.
On Saturday, Fish was scheduled to cover the Republican Congress, an election-year meeting to appoint representatives to the Republican National Committee and adopt the party’s platform.
Early that morning, a party representative told Fish that she would not be allowed to attend. Event.
“The Parties have decided that today’s Congress will not be a ‘public’ press conference. This is to let you know that your name is not included in my final press eligibility list that I am currently filling out,” Eric Grossman said in a text message to Fisch at 3:45 a.m. Ta. “The state chair believes the current reporting is grossly unfair.”
Fish decided to go anyway. At about 8:30 a.m., she attended a rally at the Colorado State Fairgrounds with her press pass in hand, she said.
“They gave me a press pass,” Fish said. “As the rally was about to begin, some of the venue’s security staff came and asked me to leave.”
The security guard recalled that event organizers did not want Fish to attend.
Grossman, who had been texting Fish early Saturday morning, approached Fish and reiterated that he had to leave.
“I tried to ask him what was unfair about my coverage and other questions, and he was like, ‘Get out of here,'” Fish said.
She stayed. Law enforcement then arrived.
Video from the stands shows a Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office official telling Mr. Fish that he was not allowed to enter the venue and saying that event staff had given Mr. Fish a press pass “in error.” It’s reflected.
Finally, Fish was escorted out.
“I would argue that political parties are private organizations that perform public business in nominating candidates on behalf of the party,” Fish said.
The Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists said the move “represents a hostile disregard for fundamental standards of transparency, accountability, and press freedom.”
“Any attempt to obstruct or suppress journalists from reporting on issues of citizen participation is a violation of democracy,” the group said on its website.
Republican state Rep. Matt Soper speaks on social media. Said Political parties “should not exclude journalists from meetings” regardless of differences of opinion.
Democratic State Sen. Nick Hinrichsen Said The incident was a “gross abuse of power and breach of trust.”
Christy Barton Brown, former chair of the Colorado Republican Party, called the action “dangerous” and said, “Our country needs transparency.”
The state Republican Party publicly defended the move and criticized journalists and state lawmakers, including members of its own party, who opposed Fish’s removal from office.Bipartisan criticism of ouster may have influenced key support: Colorado Republican Party announced On Monday, the , Colorado).
In a post responding to Flora’s criticism, the state party accused him of “babbing fake journalists who only help the Democratic Party.”
Fish said she was. He was unfazed by her exit.
“I will be covering the contests assigned to me, and I will also be participating in debates and other activities,” she said. “I’m just going to show up.”
