Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt takes questions from reporters in June of 2017. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
May 22, 2018
This post may be updated...
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blocked reporters from CNN, E&E News, and the Associated Press from attending a summit about water pollution on Tuesday, and a security guard reportedly grabbed a journalist by the shoulders and "forcibly" shoved her out of the building.
"Guards barred an AP reporter from passing through a security checkpoint inside the building. When the reporter asked to speak to an EPA public-affairs person, the security guards grabbed the reporter by the shoulders and shoved her forcibly out of the EPA building," the APsaid Tuesday.
EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told the journalists they had not been invited to the summit and there was not space for them. Wilcox toldNBC News the agency provided them with a livestream. He claimed the AP reporter threatened "negative coverage" if she was not allowed to attend the event, but also that he was "unaware of the individual situation that has been reported."
A climate reporter for Politico tweeted Tuesday that a security guard joked about how he told an AP reporter she could not film as she was being kicked out of the agency building.
A journalist from E&E confirmed that his outlet as well as CNN and the AP had been barred from attending the event.
\u201cThis morning's PFAS Leadership Summit at @EPA headquarters is open to the press... just not to reporters from @EENewsUpdates, @AP or @CNN. We've all asked the agency's press office why we're being selectively shut out and have gotten no responses.\u201d— Corbin Hiar (@Corbin Hiar) 1526991832
The AP report of the incident provoked widespread condemnation of the agency and guard's behavior.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: When the Associated Press showed up to an EPA meeting about water contamination this morning, their reporter was physically shoved out of the building.\n\nThis is not ok. Hold Pruitt accountable: https://t.co/bXNuDMncmr\n\nhttps://t.co/qPAq73Df0W\u201d— March For Science (@March For Science) 1527003287
\u201cAnother event that Scott Pruitt apparently doesn\u2019t want to public to know about: The EPA is barring AP and CNN reporters from its summit on contaminants. Security guards grabbed an AP reporter and shoved her out of the building. \nhttps://t.co/prjmFW2b6p\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1527003609
\u201cWe need journalists to be able to report on the actions of the government without fear or favor. \n\nWe need to call out when government takes action designed to prevent news from serving as a check on power.\n\nWe need to support the First Amendment.\n\nhttps://t.co/SPOoUL6rpX\u201d— Jessica Rosenworcel (@Jessica Rosenworcel) 1527000848
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt convened the meeting about water contaminants perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl after facing fierce criticism last week for preventing the release of a major study examining their impacts on waterways throughout the country.
Published emails revealed the agency and the Trump White House feared a "public relations nightmare" in response to widespread contamination from the chemicals, which are commonly used in Teflon, firefighting foam, and by the Department of Defense for exercises at U.S. bases, and have been tied to thyroid and pregnancy issues as well as some cancers.
After news broke that the agency and the White House were blocking the release of the study, Friends of the Earth had tweeted, "Scott Pruitt is more worried about journalists than poisoning millions of Americans."
"The White House reportedly worried about a 'PR nightmare' if this federal study were to be released. There is no better way to ensure a PR nightmare than to shove a journalist that showed up to report on how our government is handling water contamination," Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, declared in a statement on Tuesday.
While slamming Pruitt's cronyism and corruption scandals, she said these developments--the incident with the reporter coupled with the agency's efforts to block the water study, which could be "the administration's biggest attack on public health and safety to date"--indicate that "clearly, the administration has something to hide."
"No situation has so clearly illustrated why Pruitt must leave the EPA as this morning's tyrannical treatment of press at the hands of his agency--and that's saying a lot," Hauter concluded. "Now, it's a matter of sustaining our freedom of the press and protecting lives where communities are faced with toxic water contamination."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
This post may be updated...
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blocked reporters from CNN, E&E News, and the Associated Press from attending a summit about water pollution on Tuesday, and a security guard reportedly grabbed a journalist by the shoulders and "forcibly" shoved her out of the building.
"Guards barred an AP reporter from passing through a security checkpoint inside the building. When the reporter asked to speak to an EPA public-affairs person, the security guards grabbed the reporter by the shoulders and shoved her forcibly out of the EPA building," the APsaid Tuesday.
EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told the journalists they had not been invited to the summit and there was not space for them. Wilcox toldNBC News the agency provided them with a livestream. He claimed the AP reporter threatened "negative coverage" if she was not allowed to attend the event, but also that he was "unaware of the individual situation that has been reported."
A climate reporter for Politico tweeted Tuesday that a security guard joked about how he told an AP reporter she could not film as she was being kicked out of the agency building.
A journalist from E&E confirmed that his outlet as well as CNN and the AP had been barred from attending the event.
\u201cThis morning's PFAS Leadership Summit at @EPA headquarters is open to the press... just not to reporters from @EENewsUpdates, @AP or @CNN. We've all asked the agency's press office why we're being selectively shut out and have gotten no responses.\u201d— Corbin Hiar (@Corbin Hiar) 1526991832
The AP report of the incident provoked widespread condemnation of the agency and guard's behavior.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: When the Associated Press showed up to an EPA meeting about water contamination this morning, their reporter was physically shoved out of the building.\n\nThis is not ok. Hold Pruitt accountable: https://t.co/bXNuDMncmr\n\nhttps://t.co/qPAq73Df0W\u201d— March For Science (@March For Science) 1527003287
\u201cAnother event that Scott Pruitt apparently doesn\u2019t want to public to know about: The EPA is barring AP and CNN reporters from its summit on contaminants. Security guards grabbed an AP reporter and shoved her out of the building. \nhttps://t.co/prjmFW2b6p\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1527003609
\u201cWe need journalists to be able to report on the actions of the government without fear or favor. \n\nWe need to call out when government takes action designed to prevent news from serving as a check on power.\n\nWe need to support the First Amendment.\n\nhttps://t.co/SPOoUL6rpX\u201d— Jessica Rosenworcel (@Jessica Rosenworcel) 1527000848
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt convened the meeting about water contaminants perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl after facing fierce criticism last week for preventing the release of a major study examining their impacts on waterways throughout the country.
Published emails revealed the agency and the Trump White House feared a "public relations nightmare" in response to widespread contamination from the chemicals, which are commonly used in Teflon, firefighting foam, and by the Department of Defense for exercises at U.S. bases, and have been tied to thyroid and pregnancy issues as well as some cancers.
After news broke that the agency and the White House were blocking the release of the study, Friends of the Earth had tweeted, "Scott Pruitt is more worried about journalists than poisoning millions of Americans."
"The White House reportedly worried about a 'PR nightmare' if this federal study were to be released. There is no better way to ensure a PR nightmare than to shove a journalist that showed up to report on how our government is handling water contamination," Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, declared in a statement on Tuesday.
While slamming Pruitt's cronyism and corruption scandals, she said these developments--the incident with the reporter coupled with the agency's efforts to block the water study, which could be "the administration's biggest attack on public health and safety to date"--indicate that "clearly, the administration has something to hide."
"No situation has so clearly illustrated why Pruitt must leave the EPA as this morning's tyrannical treatment of press at the hands of his agency--and that's saying a lot," Hauter concluded. "Now, it's a matter of sustaining our freedom of the press and protecting lives where communities are faced with toxic water contamination."
This post may be updated...
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blocked reporters from CNN, E&E News, and the Associated Press from attending a summit about water pollution on Tuesday, and a security guard reportedly grabbed a journalist by the shoulders and "forcibly" shoved her out of the building.
"Guards barred an AP reporter from passing through a security checkpoint inside the building. When the reporter asked to speak to an EPA public-affairs person, the security guards grabbed the reporter by the shoulders and shoved her forcibly out of the EPA building," the APsaid Tuesday.
EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told the journalists they had not been invited to the summit and there was not space for them. Wilcox toldNBC News the agency provided them with a livestream. He claimed the AP reporter threatened "negative coverage" if she was not allowed to attend the event, but also that he was "unaware of the individual situation that has been reported."
A climate reporter for Politico tweeted Tuesday that a security guard joked about how he told an AP reporter she could not film as she was being kicked out of the agency building.
A journalist from E&E confirmed that his outlet as well as CNN and the AP had been barred from attending the event.
\u201cThis morning's PFAS Leadership Summit at @EPA headquarters is open to the press... just not to reporters from @EENewsUpdates, @AP or @CNN. We've all asked the agency's press office why we're being selectively shut out and have gotten no responses.\u201d— Corbin Hiar (@Corbin Hiar) 1526991832
The AP report of the incident provoked widespread condemnation of the agency and guard's behavior.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8 BREAKING: When the Associated Press showed up to an EPA meeting about water contamination this morning, their reporter was physically shoved out of the building.\n\nThis is not ok. Hold Pruitt accountable: https://t.co/bXNuDMncmr\n\nhttps://t.co/qPAq73Df0W\u201d— March For Science (@March For Science) 1527003287
\u201cAnother event that Scott Pruitt apparently doesn\u2019t want to public to know about: The EPA is barring AP and CNN reporters from its summit on contaminants. Security guards grabbed an AP reporter and shoved her out of the building. \nhttps://t.co/prjmFW2b6p\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1527003609
\u201cWe need journalists to be able to report on the actions of the government without fear or favor. \n\nWe need to call out when government takes action designed to prevent news from serving as a check on power.\n\nWe need to support the First Amendment.\n\nhttps://t.co/SPOoUL6rpX\u201d— Jessica Rosenworcel (@Jessica Rosenworcel) 1527000848
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt convened the meeting about water contaminants perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl after facing fierce criticism last week for preventing the release of a major study examining their impacts on waterways throughout the country.
Published emails revealed the agency and the Trump White House feared a "public relations nightmare" in response to widespread contamination from the chemicals, which are commonly used in Teflon, firefighting foam, and by the Department of Defense for exercises at U.S. bases, and have been tied to thyroid and pregnancy issues as well as some cancers.
After news broke that the agency and the White House were blocking the release of the study, Friends of the Earth had tweeted, "Scott Pruitt is more worried about journalists than poisoning millions of Americans."
"The White House reportedly worried about a 'PR nightmare' if this federal study were to be released. There is no better way to ensure a PR nightmare than to shove a journalist that showed up to report on how our government is handling water contamination," Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, declared in a statement on Tuesday.
While slamming Pruitt's cronyism and corruption scandals, she said these developments--the incident with the reporter coupled with the agency's efforts to block the water study, which could be "the administration's biggest attack on public health and safety to date"--indicate that "clearly, the administration has something to hide."
"No situation has so clearly illustrated why Pruitt must leave the EPA as this morning's tyrannical treatment of press at the hands of his agency--and that's saying a lot," Hauter concluded. "Now, it's a matter of sustaining our freedom of the press and protecting lives where communities are faced with toxic water contamination."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.