MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Mary Spicuzza was denied entry at a campaign event for Republican gubernatorial candidate Congressman Tom Tiffany.
Video circulating on social media shows Spicuzza and another reporter denied entry by a campaign staffer at Tiffany’s “Veteran’s Roundtable” Thursday morning.
A media advisory sent on September 23 by Tiffany’s campaign stated “media are welcome to cover the event.”
However, a statement released from Tiffany’s campaign to 620 WTMJ said Spicuzza was notified the day prior that she would not be allowed to attend, referring to her as a “liberal activist”.
They also wrote that “balanced journalists” were welcome at the event, which allowed entry for another Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter as well as two local Milwaukee TV stations.
“Liberal activist Mary Spicuzza was notified yesterday that she would not be permitted to attend. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had a photographer at the event, and we welcome balanced journalists from across Wisconsin, including MJS journalist Jessie Opoien. WISN, CBS 58, and other media outlets were also in attendance.”
Spicuzza’s official job title with the Journal Sentinel is “investigative political reporter.”
In response, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Executive Editor Greg Borowski on their website says “[the] newsroom is committed to covering the campaign and candidates fairly and noted the Tiffany campaign has not raised any issues with him“.
The Democratic Governor’s Association released a statement regarding the incident:
“Wisconsin voters deserve to know where their candidates for governor stand on the issues, but MAGA Congressman Tiffany is quite literally standing in the way — following Trump’s lead and lashing out at the press for doing their jobs,” said DGA spokesperson Izzi Levy. “Instead of answering for his five votes to continue the war currently driving gas prices to historic highs, Congressman Tiffany is bringing swamp tactics back to Wisconsin — ducking and hiding as he tries to avoid answering for his extreme, cost-raising record.”
The Milwaukee News Guild also responded:
Emily Stuckey, spokesperson for Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley, released the following statement:
“Congressman Tiffany has supported attempts to overturn elections and now he is blocking the press from covering his campaign. It is absolutely disqualifying for Congressman Tiffany to continue to follow Trump’s example and ban the free press. Congressman Tiffany is already hiding from voters —what would he hide from Wisconsinites as governor?”
WTMJ has reached out to Spicuzza for comment.
