Waukesha Sheriff Explains Banned Washington Post Reporter At Mike Pence Campaign Stop

WAUKESHA, WI — Less than 24 hours after a Washington Post reporter was banned from a Mike Pence campaign stop, officials from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office staged a press conference in front of the Waukesha County Expo Center Thursday to explain events.

Waukesha Sheriff Report

According to the Waukesha County Sheriff's office, Secret Service conducted a security sweep of the area designated for the media before media arrived Wednesday evening. The reporter, later identified as Jose A. DelReal from the Washington Post, was not present for this previously scheduled sweep.

Officials say DelReal attempted to enter the media area after this security sweep was conducted and was denied access by event staff. Event staff informed DelReal that he could place his electronic equipment in his vehicle and enter the facility through general admission.

A short time later, officials say, DelReal came in through the general admission door and he was stopped by the event staff. Due to security concerns, the event staff requested that DelReal be patted down to ensure that prohibited electronic equipment was not being brought into the facility.

At this time, the event staff asked two Sheriff’s Deputies who were assigned to a security post nearby to pat down DelReal. Upon receiving this request, one of the deputies asked the reporter for his permission to pat him down. DelReal consented to the pat down by a deputy and nothing was located and was allowed into the facility by event staff.

Several minutes later the event staff walked DelReal out of the facility and advised the deputies that he was not allowed back for reasons unknown to the Sheriff’s Department.

Events Reported As They Unfolded

An official with Gov. Mike Pence's political campaign told the Washington Post one of the campaign volunteers "went too far" after a reporter with the paper was blocked several times from attending Wednesday night's event in Waukesha.

According to the Washington Post, reporter Jose A. DelReal went to cover Pence's rally at the Waukesha County Exposition Center, but he was turned away by volunteers at a press check-in table.

Next, DelReal tried to go through the general admission line, but he was stopped again where a security guard told him he couldn't enter the building with his laptop and cellphone, the Journal Sentinel has reported.
According to the Journal Sentinel's report, When DelReal asked whether others attending the rally could enter with their cellphones, he said the official replied, "Not if they work for The Washington Post."

When DelReal returned in line, security personnel called two Waukesha County sheriff's deputies who patted down DelReal's legs and torso, seeking his phone, the reporter said.

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department has told Patch it is looking into the incident and will notify Patch when it has more information.

The Post Responds

The Washington Post isn't taking the reported incident lightly, and Post Executive Editor Martin Baron was quoted in the paper over the last 24 hours on the situation:

"First, press credentials for The Washington Post were revoked by Donald Trump," Baron said. "Now, law enforcement officers, in collusion with private security officials, subjected a reporter to bullying treatment that no ordinary citizen has to endure. All of this took place in a public facility no less. The harassment of an independent press isn't coming to an end. It's getting worse."