Waukesha Co. Sheriff's Department: Event staff requested Post reporter be escorted from Pence rally
WAUKESHA COUNTY -- Officials with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department want to make it very clear: Their deputies did not remove a Washington Post reporter from the Gov. Mike Pence rally Wednesday evening, July 27th in Waukesha.
Officials discuss incident involving Washington Post reporter at Pence rally in Waukesha
The Washington Post on Thursday posted an article claiming their reporter, Jose DelReal, was booted from the event -- as both a journalist and a spectator.
A press conference was held in Waukesha Thursday afternoon to try to clear up some confusion about the event.
Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow says the Sheriff's Department was merely providing additional security for the event when, for whatever reason, private security staff at the Pence rally didn't want DelReal there, and made him leave.
"For reasons unknown to the Sheriff's Department, event staff escorted the Washington Post reporter from the facility," Torin Misko with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department said.
DelReal said he was denied press credentials when he arrived Wednesday evening. The Trump-Pence campaign reserved the Waukesha County Expo Center for Pence's first solo campaign stop since the Republican National Convention.
Officials discuss incident involving Washington Post reporter at Pence rally in Waukesha
Sheriff's officials said in a statement Thursday that DelReal arrived late for the event.
He allegedly tried to enter through the general admission line, but was stopped by private security officials who said he couldn't enter with his laptop and cell phone.
Sheriff's deputies said DelReal consented to a pat-down after putting the items in his car. Nothing was found during the pat-down, but DelReal was still removed from the event soon after he entered.
Gov. Mike Pence, wife Karen and Gov. Scott Walker
In the past, Donald Trump's campaign has denied credentials to news outlets he doesn't like, but generally, the reporters have been able to access campaign events through the public entrance.
Officials in Waukesha said DelReal was removed for reasons unknown to the Sheriff's Department. They said it was a decision made by event staff.
"At this point, the client came to the Sheriff`s Department and said, 'we would like you to back us up on what`s going on.' We didn`t make that decision on what to do. It was the client who made that decision and we supported that. We're here on behalf of the client," Farrow said.
Gov. Mike Pence in Waukesha
A news release from the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department issued Thursday indicates the following:
"As part of the security for this event, the Secret Service conducted a security sweep of the area designated for the media, as per their standard protocol. The reporter from the Washington Post did not arrive on time, attempted to enter the media area after this security sweep was conducted, and was denied access by staff from the event. A short time later, the reporter came in through the regular general admission door. At this time, the reporter was stopped by the staff from the event and they were concerned about him coming in to the venue with prohibited electronic equipment.
Due to the security concern, the event staff requested that the reporter be patted down to ensure that prohibited electronic equipment was not being brought into the facility. At this time, the event staff asked two deputies who were assigned to a security post nearby to pat down the reporter. The reporter consented to the pat down by a deputy. Nothing was located, therefore he was let into the facility by event staff.
Several minutes later, event staff walked the reporter out of the facility and advised the deputies that he was not allowed back in to the facility for reasons unknown to the Sheriff’s Department."
Waukesha County Deputy Inspector Torin Misko issued a statement saying the following:
"The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a concern in a respectful way, according to standard, professional protocols. This was a standard request from a client, and it was fulfilled in a professional way by two outstanding deputies."
Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow said this in the statement:
“Just like an event any private citizen would hold, such as a wedding, clients who rent our facilities are able to control who is and is not allowed into their venue. In this case, a private client requested that an individual leave their event. Local law enforcement complied professionally at their request, and according to standard security protocols.”