Dem Sen Blumenthal: WH Blocking CNN Reporter ‘Raises Very Severe First Amendment Issues’

On Wednesday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) stated the White House blocking CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins from an event on Wednesday is “an offense against the First Amendment interests of all of us.” And “This kind of misconduct raises very severe First Amendment issues. And I intend to pursue them.”

Blumenthal said, “I am shocked and angry, deeply offended, not only as a United States senator, but as a citizen of the United States, by this kind of very chilling intimidation and punishment of a reporter, simply for asking a legitimate question. This kind of really — violation of a reporter’s rights is an offense against the First Amendment interests of all of us. And it is public property. It’s not Donald Trump’s personal home or place of business. It really is a source of information that all of us need and deserve. And these questions are legitimate. I am really, very deeply offended.”

He added, “We are the greatest nation in history world because we have the Bill of Rights, and one of those rights is the First Amendment. This kind of misconduct raises very severe First Amendment issues. And I intend to pursue them.”

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett