[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 601 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 601

 Condemning the decision by President Donald Trump and the White House 
to ban members of the media from White House events for asking critical 
questions of the President, and affirming the importance of a free and 
                   unfettered press in our democracy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2018

Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
   Udall, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Booker, Mr. Cardin, and Ms. 
 Hassan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning the decision by President Donald Trump and the White House 
to ban members of the media from White House events for asking critical 
questions of the President, and affirming the importance of a free and 
                   unfettered press in our democracy.

Whereas President Donald Trump repeatedly refers to reputable journalists and 
        multiple media organizations as ``fake news'';
Whereas President Trump has characterized media organizations as ``a stain on 
        America'';
Whereas President Trump has also characterized media organizations as ``the real 
        enemy of the people'', while simultaneously characterizing his summit 
        with Russian President Vladimir Putin as ``a great success'';
Whereas President Trump has threatened media organizations such as CNN and the 
        Washington Post with antitrust actions while ignoring antitrust concerns 
        with news organizations that provide him favorable coverage;
Whereas, on July 25, 2016, the White House singled out CNN reporter Kaitlan 
        Collins and barred her from attending an event at the White House Rose 
        Garden;
Whereas Ms. Collins asked President Trump questions regarding his former 
        attorney Michael Cohen and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he 
        did not answer, at the White House press pool earlier in the day;
Whereas the White House alleged that Ms. Collins' questions were inappropriate 
        for the venue;
Whereas the White House's justification for removing Ms. Collins was clearly a 
        pretext, and the real reason she was removed was that President Trump 
        didn't like Ms. Collins' questions, which made him uncomfortable;
Whereas President Trump has threatened to take away the White House press 
        credentials of journalists whose coverage he does not like;
Whereas the decision to bar a member of the press from the White House for the 
        questions the member asked is retaliatory in nature, violates the spirit 
        of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and is 
        not indicative of an open and free press; and
Whereas a free and unfettered press is the cornerstone of our democracy: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the decision by President Donald Trump and the 
        White House to bar Kaitlan Collins from the White House;
            (2) condemns the escalating attacks by President Trump on 
        reputable journalists and news organizations as ``fake news'', 
        ``a stain on America'', and ``the real enemy of the people'';
            (3) affirms that it is necessary and appropriate for 
        reporters to ask questions of powerful government officials, 
        including the President of the United States, in order to hold 
        these officials accountable to the people of the United States; 
        and
            (4) affirms that reporters and journalists must be able to 
        feel free to do their duty without fear of reprisal from the 
        Government.
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