UPDATE: In response to the story, Fox News categorically denies all of what Laslo and Manríquez said. They told Raw Story in an email that the Capitol Police came to do a "sweep," and it was unannounced, and that the Fox crew didn't know anything about it. They say that it had nothing to do with Laslo taking photos of Hannity's event. This story has been updated to reflect these assertions.
While at the U.S. Capitol last week, Fox News personality Sean Hannity's producer clashed with Raw Story writer Matt Laslo.
Lalso explained that he was taking photos of Hannity's setup at the Capitol before Hannity staged a broadcast from there. Hannity staffers were preparing for a live shot. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) did a similar interview with Hannity in January when he first took over the speakership. They set up in the historic Rayburn Room, which is between the House floor and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' leadership suite.
Laslo tweeted that five members of law enforcement blocked off the area, including one in a white shirt, which designates he was a member of the top brass in the Capitol Police. Two of the five were bomb squad members, said Laslo.
Why the police presence?
"Cause you took pictures of our space," the producer can be heard saying in the recording of her conversation with Laslo.
"Yeah, I took pictures in the Capitol of a public room," Laslo replied.
"I just need to know," she said, referring back to who he is and who he worked for. Laslo explained his other job is a media professor at Johns Hopkins University. "I'm a Wired magazine contributor."
"OK, thank you," she said.
"I'm constantly reporting on tech," said Laslo, giving her his card and saying he'd love to get her information.
"A Hannity producer confronted @MattLaslo about taking photos in a public area of the House of Representatives," revealed fellow reporter Pablo Manríquez, who watched the incident unfold. "Laslo told a Hannity producer (paraphrase) to go f--k themself."
"More so, invited her to take one of my courses…basically…" said Laslo in response.
That's when the Capitol Police showed up, Laslo posted on social media.
“Do you know how many thousands of dollars this Sean Hannity shoot is now going to cost taxpayers?” Manríquez later said, referring to the Fox crew demanding the aid of Capitol Police to keep away the non-Fox staff.
At the start of the interview, a member can be seen holding up his phone to take photos of the cameras directed on him. He was directly behind Hannity.
