Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was protected from reporters by fellow Democratic black members of Congress on Wednesday as they left a meeting on Capitol Hill. Congressional Black Caucus members formed a protective circle around Omar with one member, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) literally stiff arming reporters, according to a report by a Politico’s Melanie Zanona.
Leaving CBC meeting, members formed a circle around @IlhanMN and Marcia Fudge literally stuck her arm out to prevent reporters from asking her questions.
Then a few members hugged Omar, including Al Lawson.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) March 6, 2019
Zanona appears to be the only member of the press to report on the muscling of reporters. No video has been posted even though numerous videos of Omar being queried by reporters have been posted this week.
CNN’s Ashley Killough posted video Tuesday night of Omar ignoring reporters:
Video: Rep. Ilhan Omar declines to answer questions from reporters about the House resolution to condemn anti-Semitism pic.twitter.com/eCv1IgWFiR
— Ashley Killough (@KilloughCNN) March 6, 2019
NBC News’ Alex Moe posted video of the same media scrum:
Rep @IlhanMN answers no questions about her latest controversial comments as she heads to votes pic.twitter.com/WbTgp8BY5q
— Alex Moe (@alexmoeflo) March 5, 2019
Fox News’ Peter Doocy was seen questioning Omar earlier Wednesday several times, with Omar ignoring him every time.
It appears @IlhanMN still isn't interested in taking questions on the anti-semitic statements she has made and her colleagues have condemned. https://t.co/RxZx1wUVCi
Today she avoided reporters trying to get her to comment. pic.twitter.com/CTHfJVUu6P
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 6, 2019
In those instances, reporters did their job without interference and reported via video. The muscling of reporters by the Congressional Black Caucus has barely been reported and no videos posted even though Omar is a hot story on the Hill right now.
Perhaps the media is reluctant considering the ‘friend in high place’ of the CBC.
Writer Jeryl Bier re-upped a photo of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan with members of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2005 as part of his explainer why the CBC is rallying around Omar.
1/ In light of the @OfficialCBC's recent efforts to prevent the House from passing a resolution condemning the anti-Semitic comments of @IlhanMN, I have prepared a comprehensive listing of the CBC's official pronouncements condemning Louis Farrakhan & distancing itself from him: https://t.co/XI5D412myW
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) March 6, 2019
2/
…
…
…— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) March 6, 2019
3/ This silence comes in spite a long history of the @OfficialCBC's collaboration with @LouisFarrakhan , including this 2005 group photo when the CBC hosted Farrakhan at the Capitol: pic.twitter.com/6YwIK8xVls
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) March 6, 2019
4/ Here's a thread with links to research I've done on the topic of the CBC and Farrakhan:https://t.co/POsPhzogwA
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) March 6, 2019
Interesting that no other reporter has reported on the muscling of the media by the CBC. Cue “if this had been a Republican…”
