EPA Blocks AP, CNN From National Summit On Harmful Water Contaminants

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo/AP




By Associated Press | May 22, 2018 10:20 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency is barring The Associated Press, CNN and the environmental-focused news organization E&E from a national summit on harmful water contaminants.

The EPA blocked the news organizations from attending Tuesday’s Washington meeting, convened by EPA chief Scott Pruitt. EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told the barred organizations they were not invited and there was no space for them, but gave no indication of why they specifically were barred.

Pruitt told about 200 people at the meeting that dealing with the contaminants is a “national priority.”

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.

###

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/epa-bars-associated-press-cnn-national-summit-water-contaminants

[Me.]

1. The AP Needs To Sue Over This

[riversedge]

7. I hope there is a camera on this.....

...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.

[Me.]

9. ...

Wonder if the guard could be arrested for assault

[riversedge]

15. Lets hope this reporter reports it.

[Kurt V.]

33. Probably someone from his 'personal security detail'.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

37. Or Erik Princes....

'princes'...eyeroll.

[MBS]

21. + 10,000 n/t

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. +1. They are the epitome of credentialed news services. They can't be arbitrarily blocked.

This truly is a First Amendment issue.

[Me.]

27. Nor Manhandled

[rzemanfl]

2. Fucking Nazis. n/t

[RKP5637]

3. As the Trump Regime continues to overthrow US democracy. It's so damn obvious. n/t

[riversedge]

16. Pruitt has faced criticism in recent weeks over emails showing the EPA sought to intervene in a crit

recall this was in the news last week.

Pruitt has faced criticism in recent weeks over emails showing the EPA sought to intervene in a critical study on the contaminants.
The Latest: EPA bars AP, CNN from summit on contaminants

https://apnews.com/d799f4e096cc42cf99ae01b02d1e0688

[bronxiteforever]

4. GOP Cowards. Afraid of the press, afraid of the people.n/t

[Nitram]

5. That sounds illegal. Here comes the ACLU.

[riversedge]

6. Trumps constant hitting on the media in rallies and his tweets are a part of this.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. This is criminal

Taxpayers pay for this government. We have a right to know. The free press is how you do that.

[riversedge]

10. Anyone know if tax dollars are contributing to this conference??

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency is barring The Associated Press, CNN and the environmental-focused news organization E&E from a national summit on harmful water contaminants.

The EPA blocked the news organizations from attending Tuesday’s Washington meeting, convened by EPA chief Scott Pruitt.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. If they operate in silence, they can do anything. Anything.

This is but a test of how they can shut out the press, what sort of resistance they face.

[Achilleaze]

12. republican fascists, Inc. blocking news about corporate crap in the water

freaking republicans are pissing all over America and American democracy

[dalton99a]

13. Kick

[riversedge]

14. Representatives of states, tribes, the chemical industry, environmental groups and others are atten

Pruitt has faced criticism in recent weeks over emails showing the EPA sought to intervene in a critical study on the contaminants.
The Latest: EPA bars AP, CNN from summit on contaminants

https://apnews.com/d799f4e096cc42cf99ae01b02d1e0688
......9:25 a.m.

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt says dealing with a widespread contaminant in drinking water is a “national priority.”

Pruitt spoke Tuesday as he opened a hearing on the contaminants, known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl. The chemicals were used in items like nonstick coating and firefighting foam and have contaminated some water systems nationwide. The compounds are linked to developmental defects and other health problems.

Pruitt has faced criticism in recent weeks over emails showing the EPA sought to intervene in a critical study on the contaminants.

Convening Tuesday’s session, Pruitt is pledging to work on establishing a maximum allowable level for the chemicals in drinking water.

Representatives of states, tribes, the chemical industry, environmental groups and others are attending the session.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

17. FOIA the transcript. NT

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. The Latest: EPA bars AP, CNN from summit on contaminants

David Fahrenthold Retweeted: https://twitter.com/Fahrenthold

The @EPA told @AP, @CNN they weren't invited to @AdministratorPruitt's #PFAS summit. EPA guards grabbed AP reporter by shoulders, shoved reporter out of building when she asked to talk to agency public-affairs person about covering meeting

Link to tweet

The Latest: EPA bars AP, CNN from summit on contaminants

1 hour ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on a hearing with EPA chief Scott Pruitt on a widespread contaminant in drinking water (all times local):

9:55 a.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency is barring The Associated Press, CNN and the environmental-focused news organization E&E from a national summit on harmful water contaminants. ... The EPA blocked the news organizations from attending Tuesday’s Washington meeting, convened by EPA chief Scott Pruitt.

EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox told the barred organizations they were not invited and there was no space for them, but gave no indication of why they specifically were barred.

Pruitt told about 200 people at the meeting that dealing with the contaminants is a “national priority.”

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 @AP, @CNN and E&E all showed up to cover this @EPA meeting on widespread, dangerous contaminants in many drinking water systems around the country. We were all turned away at the door of the EPA building.

Link to tweet

[dhill926]

20. fascism on the march....

and the pace has been picking up lately....

[Roland99]

22. How the fuck is Pruitt still in office and not in a jail cell?!

[malthaussen]

23. There is no excuse for this. n/t

[Lobo27]

25. Conservatives will only be happy....

When the world turns into a dystopia. A wasteland for all to share... Something like...


"Hey Jim there comes the fiery methane hurricane."

"Let us pray."

[Still In Wisconsin]

26. Commissar for EPA has determined these organizations are enemy of state.

These organizations shall not be permit into summit on harmful water contaminants, which do not exist, especially in town called Flint Michigan.

End of directive. All comrades return to work immediately.

[brooklynite]

28. UPDATE: EPA reverses course, lets reporters into hearing after outcry

The Hill:

In a reversal following media outcry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would allow all representatives from the media to attend the second half of a chemical summit that previously barred some press.

An EPA spokesperson announced Tuesday afternoon that all press will now be able to attend in person the National Leadership Summit on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) being held over the course of two days at the EPA.

"EPA is opening the second portion of today PFAS Leadership Summit to press. The first portion was available via livestream," the spokesperson said in a statement. "This will start at 1 p.m and last until 5:30 p.m. and you can enter via the East Entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue NW."

The decision follows immense media scrutiny over the EPA's limitation of reporters allowed to cover part of its chemical summit Tuesday morning--including one reporter who says she was forcibly removed from the event.

[KPN]

29. Holy fucking shit! A guard physically forced

an AP journalist out of the building? I retired from the federal govt 5 years ago. Had this happened while I was working, that Guard would have been suspended probably within 24-48 hours pending investigation. Won't happen with this Guard. He or she is doing as told, following orders. Nazi Germanyesque!

[Stonepounder]

30. This is how Democracy dies. They are trying to shred the Constitution.

CNN, AP, and E&E immediately need to file a formal complaint with the IG and the reporter who was shoved out of the building should file an 'assault and battery' complaint with the Capitol police, and possibly a civil suit as well. There needs to be HUGE pushback against this! This is how a Free Press dies.

Don't think this is anything but the first shot. They will do it again and wait a little longer before apologizing. They they will do it again and less of an apology, then again with no apology. Then it will become the norm.

Today is Primary day here in KY and you better believe I'll be heading to our local precinct shortly to vote a straight Democrat ticket. (Yeah, we can still do that in KY. Just mark the box marked 'D' on your ballot and it counts as a vote for every Dem on the ticket.) I want my country back!

[LiberalLovinLug]

31. Since when did reporters, in a free society, have to be "invited" to cover a story?

[sinkingfeeling]

32. We are now a fascist state.

[duforsure]

34. Trumps doing to the country

What that idiot business man politician did to Flint , only with water , air, food, everything to contaminate everything in our environment, all for greed, and now trying to hide it being discovered.

[Honeycombe8]

35. This is blatant corruption and secrecy like a dictatorship. nt

[Blue_Tires]

36. Greenwald and Timm were unavailable for comment

[GReedDiamond]

38. " Pruitt told about 200 people at the meeting...

...that dealing with the contaminants is a 'national priority.' "

Yeah, by making sure that the assholes doing the contaminating are allowed to continue doing so, with fewer regulations/less enforcement by EPA.

Fuck Pruitt, one of the more brazen fascist fucking pieces of shit I've ever heard of.