John Boehner Spokesman Attacks Reporter: ‘A Prop for Freedom Caucus Propaganda’
Rob Bluey /
House conservatives have suffered their share of retribution from GOP leadership over the past few years. Now, it appears journalists could be in store for punishment, too.
Roll Call reporter Matt Fuller. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom)
Roll Call reporter Matt Fuller, who has covered the conservatives’ clash with leadership, was on the receiving end of a personal attack from Speaker John Boehner’s top communicator Wednesday.
Fuller was writing a story about the possible strategies conservatives, many affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus, might use to send a message to leadership. One idea was teaming up with Democrats to remove Boehner as speaker.
The official response from Boehner’s communications director: “Matt Fuller is a prop for Freedom Caucus propaganda,” Smith wrote in an email, according to a report in Roll Call.
The editor of Roll Call said Smith’s comment was “insulting.”
“Over our 60 years covering Congress, we’ve dealt with many communications professionals at high levels, and we’ll deal with many more,” said Christina Bellantoni, Roll Call’s editor-in-chief. “We’re not intimidated in the slightest by Mr. Smith or anyone in Boehner’s shop, nor his refusal to answer a straightforward question. Insulting Matt Fuller doesn’t change the fact he is a dogged reporter with a pulse on tensions inside the GOP Conference.”
Smith did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment.
Fuller seemed to make the most of the situation in a series of tweets last night:
The official comment from John Boehner's office regarding a response to a quote: "Matt Fuller is a prop for Freedom Caucus propaganda."
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 24, 2015
What's Boehner's office's response to this quote? I'm a "prop for Freedom Caucus propaganda." http://t.co/6tONFl9Hbh pic.twitter.com/Je5ISP91Lf
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 24, 2015
Neat how GOP leadership isn't just going after conservatives; they're going after reporters who cover conservatives.http://t.co/6tONFl9Hbh
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 24, 2015
Also, I didn't ask to be in this story. I asked Boehner's office for a comment to a quote. They decided to attack me. http://t.co/6tONFl9Hbh
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 24, 2015
What's that thing Boehner supposedly says? We can disagree without being disagreeable? Oh.http://t.co/6tONFl9Hbh pic.twitter.com/jO6NuQRuFs
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 25, 2015
Meanwhile, conservatives were bracing for more fallout from their opposition to a procedural motion last week in favor of President Obama’s trade deal. Three Republicans were kicked off the GOP whip team and Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina lost his chairmanship of a House subcommittee.
>>> Meet the 11 Republicans Punished by House GOP Leadership
It appeared Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., would retain his status as president of the freshman class, but other lawmakers could still be removed from committees or face other punishment from leadership.
This story has been updated.