A quick story/thread on why the new press restrictions in the Capitol are such a disservice to the American people during the impeachment trial.
After Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing, Republicans huddled for a private meeting to see if they had the votes. At the time, Jeff Flake was still was one of the key undecided GOP votes. But he snuck out a back door to avoid the mob of reporters waiting outside.
Me and a few other reporters, however, spotted Flake — and we literally ran after him in heels. When a few of us caught up with him, he actually stopped and talked to us.
You could tell Flake was still wrestling with the decision, but his comments that night offered the first real indication he was leaning toward a yes vote. "They both did well,” he told us, referring to Kavanaugh & Blasey Ford.
That instructive exchange with Flake would have never happened if we had been confined to pens & weren’t allowed to walk with/chase after members. A critical part of our job is to pose questions to senators, including — and especially — to those who don’t want to answer them.
Bottom line: whether you’re Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you deserve to know how your senator is approaching one of the most consequential votes they can take.
