Capitol Hill staff prevent journalists from reporting on health care protesters

Capitol Hill staff blocked reporters from reporting on demonstrators who were protesting the Senate’s vote to proceed to debate on an as-yet-unknown Republican health care measure. In at least one case, a journalist said they forced him to delete his video of the protesters.

As voting began on the measure, dozens of protesters yelled “kill the bill” and “shame” from the Senate gallery. The demonstrators were removed from the gallery and placed under arrest by Capitol Police:

Dozens of protesters chanting kill the bill being pulled from Senate gallery and being ziptied in hallway

— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) July 25, 2017

But reporters who attempted to report on the scene were denied access on the grounds that they were observing a “crime scene”:

Sergeant at Arms just backed reporters off, called it a 'crime scene.' Protesters have been escorted away.

— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) July 25, 2017

Senate gallery staffer tells reporters to "back up" away from protesters who are being arrested. "This is a crime scene"

— Gabby Morrongiello (@gabriellahope_) July 25, 2017

Reporters were told they could not take photos and had to delete any they had taken:

Reporters blocked from Senate halls where protesters being arrested, shouting, “Kill the bill!” Being told, “no photos. Delete your photos.”

— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) July 25, 2017

Capitol Hill staffer now telling reporters “no photography, no videos” of protestors

— Gabby Morrongiello (@gabriellahope_) July 25, 2017

And in at least one case, a journalist says he was forced to delete a video he had recorded:

Capitol Police made me delete the video I recorded. https://t.co/NQH2fLFYiO

— Andrew Desiderio (@desiderioDC) July 25, 2017

In recent weeks, Republicans have sought to curtail press access on Capitol Hill. At one point, the Senate rules committee said it would begin enforcing a rule banning reporters from filming interviews with senators unless they had been granted permission ahead of time, according to journalists. Following an uproar, Republicans backed off.