A Colorado Sun political reporter was escorted out of the state Republican Capitol by sheriff’s deputies on Saturday after being told that the state’s Republican Party chairman, Dave Williams, found “the current reporting to be very unfair.” It was done.
Reporter Sandra Fisch, who has covered politics since 1982, received a text message at 3:45 a.m. Saturday from Colorado Republican Party event organizers saying she was no longer allowed to attend. Fish went anyway to the rally at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, where she checked in and received press credentials for admission.
After about an hour, she was asked to leave.
Mr. Fish initially refused, but was later taken away by law enforcement officers who told him, “You have to be invited here. They don’t want you here. We have to get you out of here.” Hmm,” on-site video Photographed by another journalist.
Over the past year, Mr. Fish has written news articles about Mr. Williams’ 2023 race for state leadership, as well as articles about the party’s financial woes. In February, she said that the state Republican Party had sent pro-Donald Trump emails attacking Williams’ primary candidate for Congress, saying, “Mr. He wrote an article in The Sun calling it “the latest example of the use of leadership positions.” Williams is running to replace U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District.
Williams was elected party chairman on a platform that included falsely claiming that former President Trump won the 2020 election.
Several Republican leaders criticized the banning of reporters from the statehouse, one of the most important events of the year as the party chooses candidates for the November election.
State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Republican from Weld County, called it “disgusting” and embarrassing in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Sandra Fish is a fair, honest and respected reporter. As a Republican, I am embarrassed by the Republican Party Chair,” she posted. “As a state senator, I am appalled by this blatant disregard for the Constitution, and as a former lawmaker as well. It’s appalling.”
Even the most recent Republican state chair before Williams took office slammed the move. Christie Barton Brown, who is currently running for state board of education, said Fish is “widely known to be tough but fair” and called this a “dangerous response” from her party. Stated.
“Transparency is necessary for our country,” she said.
In a pre-dawn text from the Republican Party, Fisch said he was told by Eric Grossman, who was in charge of preparing for the session, that the party had determined that the event was not a “public press event.”
“I would like to inform you that your name is not included in the final press eligibility list that I am currently filling out,” he texted.
Fish said she decided to attend the event anyway. “It’s important for the public to see these things and report on them,” Fish said.
Colorado Sun editor Larry Rickman called Fish an “experienced and accomplished journalist” who worked hard to bring important news to Coloradans.
“Freedom of the press is a pillar of a healthy democracy,” he said. “The Founding Fathers understood this, which is why they enshrined freedom of the press in the First Amendment. People have a right to know who is running for political office, and today Sandra I attended on behalf of the people.”
Rickman said the situation reminded him of when he was the Associated Press’ Moscow correspondent. “It’s a sad day when politicians have to decide who can and cannot report for the American people,” he said. “I once lived and covered a place like that too. It was called the Soviet Union. We deserve better recognition in Colorado.”
Williams did not respond to requests for comment from The Sun.
Williams said Fish and the Sun are “just an extension of the Democratic Party and we don’t need them at the convention,” according to the Pueblo Chieftain. He told the Chieftain that the Colorado Republican Party is “a private political organization, and if they want to come and lie about us, they can do it outside of the conference.”
The Sun is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, statewide news organization.
The Sun learned Thursday that the Colorado Republican Party may be planning to block Fish from attending Saturday’s statewide legislative session. Mr. Rickman and another editor actively contacted Mr. Williams, but Mr. Williams did not respond to multiple messages.
Republicans in the state Legislature are advancing candidates to the University of Colorado Regents general primary ballot and selecting representatives for the Republican National Committee, which selects presidential candidates. The party was also working on developing a platform for the upcoming election season.
