FCC's Version of May Meeting Media Manhandling Wrong, Reporter Says
Roll Call reporter John Donnelly said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's apology (see 1706080058) for his manhandling by FCC security at the May 18 commissioners' meeting was appreciated, but "his version of the facts is inaccurate." In an email to us…
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Friday, Donnelly said he "never attempted to enter a restricted area. ... Even if the guards had somehow convinced themselves that I was trying to enter a restricted area, that does not excuse what they did." He said if security guards had inadvertent physical contact with him, they should have said so or apologized then. That security asked him why he hadn't asked his question during the news conference instead of trying to catch Commissioner Mike O'Rielly afterward "tells you they knew I was a reporter and they felt justified in knocking me back," Donnelly said. He disagreed with Pai's denial he was pinned, saying he "could not move for several seconds as they leaned into me." The FCC didn't comment.