Senate Moves To Restrict Press Access, Triggering Backlash

WASHINGTON, DC — Reporters in the Capitol building were stunned Tuesday morning when they were told by hill staffers that they would no longer be allowed to film interviews with senators in the halls despite the long-established acceptance of the practice. Shortly after reporters began decrying the rule change on Twitter, multiple senators from both parties denounced the change.

"Senators shouldn't need to hide," said California Democrat Sen. Kamala Harris. "We serve the people the people & they have a right to know what we are doing."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, tweeted, "As ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee I call on the majority to allow reporting in the Capitol to proceed as usual." She later told NBC News reporter Kasie Hunt that Sen. Richard Shelby, the Alabama Republican and chair of the committee, said he would not limit press access.

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who sits on the Rules Committee, said, "We were not aware of it until we saw on Twitter." Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, was surprised by the decision when he discussed it with Politico reporter Burgess Everett. "Of all the problems in America, y'all are pretty down the list," Graham said.

Eventually, Shelby issued a statement denying a rule change.

"The Rules Committee has made no changes to the existing rules governing press coverage on the Senate side of the Capitol Complex," Shelby said. "The Committee has been working with the various galleries to ensure compliance with existing rules in an effort to help provide a safe environment for Members of Congress, the press corps, staff, and constituents as they travel from Senate offices to the Capitol. Once again, no additional restrictions have been put in place by the Rules Committee."

The statement did not clarify why reporters were told Tuesday that they were not allowed to film their interviews with senators.

Hunt, one of the first to break the news about the attempt to restrict press access, responded to Shelby's statement:

Later, Hunt reported:

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