De Blasio Defends Free Media, Has Reporter Physically Removed Hours Later for Asking Question By Steven Beyer
August 13, 2018 at 11:15am
On Sunday morning, New York mayor Bill De Blasio appeared on CNNs Reliable Sources to discuss free speech, but just a few hours later, the Democrat mayor watched as two of his bodyguards physically removed a reporter from a ribbon cutting event.
De Blasio had appeared on the CNN show to discuss an interview with The Guardian in which he criticized The New York Posts parent company, News Corp. While the mayor criticized newspaper as a right-wing rag, De Blasio said, I believe in a free, strong media with diverse views Ill defend it with all Ive got.
However, The New York Post reports that two hours later, De Blasio was set to cut the ribbon to kick off the annual Dominican Day Parade in Manhattan, when its reporter Kevin Sheehan asked a question about a story that had appeared that earlier that day in the New York Post.
The reporter simply asked the mayor to comment on the front page story, CITY FOR SALE. It was then that De Blasios bodyguards, members of his NYPD security detail, reportedly grabbed the reporters shoulder and led him away from the event.
The mayor watched as this took place, failing to comment or even decline to comment on the question.
The security guard, who was in plainclothes at the time, told the reporter, Kevin, you have to leave. You cant be here. The bodyguards then took him about a half a block away where Officer Brian Magoolaghan, who is a member of the NYPDs public information office told Kevin, Come on, Kevin. No stunts today.
After the event, the mayors press secretary issued a statement via email concerning what took place at the ribbon cutting. The email said, The Department takes appropriate and necessary measures to protect dignitaries, including the Mayor of the City of New York.
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