Connecticut Republican Chairman J.R. Romano has denied Hearst political reporter Neil Vigdor credentials to his party’s convention.
I’m tired of him having unnamed sources,” Romano said Friday. “I question his motivations. Neil Vigdor is not treating us fairly. I just want to be treated fairly. I’m not being treated fairly.” Romano later sent a fundraising email to the Connecticut GOP membership calling the reporter an “anti-Republican blogger,” and that “I’ve had enough with unfair, biased media coverage of our party and candidates.”
Romano.
One of his party’s highest-ranking members, Rep. Themis Klarides, asked Romano to reconsider.
The state Democrats castigated the move, and the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information president Jim Smith said he was appalled:
“Since when do politicians get to decide who will cover politics in America?” Smith said. “I suggest J.R. Romano re-read the First Amendment, the part about not abridging freedom of speech or the press. Neil Vigdor is one of Connecticut’s finest reporters. This smacks of Donald Trump trying to quash Megyn Kelly. No one who believes in democracy should put up with such shenanigans.”
UPDATE: Late Monday morning Romano agreed to issue a credential to Vigdor. Romano said his temporary ban on the Hearst reporter had allowed him to make his point about what he considered unfair coverage.
