{"id":23048,"date":"2026-07-31T11:20:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T06:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23048"},"modified":"2026-07-31T11:20:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T06:20:22","slug":"gop-senator-calls-over-capitol-police-to-help-him-evade-tmz-reporter-asking-about-mitch-mcconnell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23048","title":{"rendered":"GOP Senator Calls Over Capitol Police to Help Him Evade TMZ Reporter Asking About Mitch McConnell"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5746936\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5746936\" class=\"wp-image-5746936 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/am11.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-30-at-2-47-06-PM-1200x689.jpg\" alt=\"Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) evading TMZ reporter Charlie Cotton\" width=\"1200\" height=\"689\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-5746936\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot via X.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sen.<strong> Pete Ricketts<\/strong> (R-NE) really did not want to answer questions from TMZ DC reporter <strong>Charlie Cotton<\/strong> about Sen. <strong>Mitch McConnell<\/strong> (R-KY), even enlisting the Capitol Police to help him escape.<\/p>\n<p>McConnell, 84, has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/shock-report-says-mitch-mcconnell-was-found-unconscious-after-possible-heart-attack-last-month\/\">hospitalized<\/a>\u00a0since June 14. Several Republicans have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/tv\/cnn-duped-by-phony-gop-congressman-claiming-to-have-spoken-to-mitch-mcconnell\/\">said they have spoken to him<\/a> on the phone, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/tv\/alyssa-farah-griffin-reveals-the-one-thing-mitch-mcconnell-must-do-to-clear-up-rampant-speculation-about-his-health\/\">rumors and conspiracy theories<\/a> have flourished online as he has remained <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/mitch-mcconnell-missing-person-posters-pop-up-in-d-c-seek-whereabouts-of-turtle-like-senator\/\">out of the public eye<\/a>, other than releasing statements through his staff and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/print\/washington-post-gets-one-of-its-interns-to-fact-check-mcconnell-photo-showing-papers-sports-section\/\">a few photos<\/a>. Kentucky Gov. <strong>Andy Beshears<\/strong> (D-KY) has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/news\/beshear-slaps-mitch-mcconnell-with-ultimatum-as-questions-about-his-health-linger-speak-up-or-resign\/\">called on the senator<\/a> to either &#8220;directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Cotton posted a short video clip Thursday afternoon of him attempting to ask Ricketts about his absentee Republican colleague as they walked through the hallways of the Senate offices, accompanied by a staffer and another reporter following along.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Ricketts sicked Capitol Police on me to get out of answering basic questions!&#8221; wrote Cotton in a tweet sharing the video.<\/p>\n<p>The video clip showed Ricketts initially offering a curt response to Cotton but then, as the group approached a security checkpoint, he gestured at the reporters and called for the Capitol Police to stop them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"9e1f5ed67bec9235aa059aa92898b098\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorRicketts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SenatorRicketts<\/a> sicked Capitol Police on me to get out of answering basic questions! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1Yqw9dwiXT\">pic.twitter.com\/1Yqw9dwiXT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; CHARLIE COTTON (@hicharliecotton) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hicharliecotton\/status\/2082868719017996322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Do you think Mitch McConnell needs to do more to prove his health?&#8221; Cotton asked.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we should give Mitch the time he needs to be able to recover and come back to the Senate, and we&#8217;ll be praying for him, and wish him well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but we can give him the time he needs while also he provides &#8211;&#8221; Cotton said, as Ricketts called out, &#8220;Stop them&#8221; to the Capitol Police and gestured back at Cotton with his thumb.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These guys are not &#8212; only he&#8217;s with me, these two are not,&#8221; said Ricketts, slapping the back of the staffer with him.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Yeah, but I&#8217;m a reporter, sir,&#8221; said Cotton.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s gotta go through security,&#8221; Ricketts said as he walked swiftly away.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I already have been through security, sir!&#8221; Cotton called after the departing senator, turning and repeating, &#8220;I&#8217;ve already been through security&#8221; to the police officer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I came from downstairs, man!&#8221; Cotton said with a slightly dejected tone to his voice, the officer seemingly unmoved by his plight as his quarry escaped down the hallway.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Myles Morrell<\/strong> with Gateway Pundit shared Cotton&#8217;s video and revealed that he was the other reporter.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was there too,&#8221; wrote Morrell, denouncing Ricketts for claiming that the two reporters were &#8220;harassing&#8221; him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"b1e3318f134bc25c1a225ae0292ffa72\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I was there too. He claimed that me and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hicharliecotton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@hicharliecotton<\/a> were \u201charassing\u201d him.<\/p>\n<p>We are both Congressional reporters. I have asked him questions multiple times with no problem. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hzt98KAt3c\">https:\/\/t.co\/hzt98KAt3c<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Myles Morell (@MorellMedia) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MorellMedia\/status\/2082882318033674498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;We are both Congressional reporters,&#8221; Morrell emphasized. &#8220;I have asked him questions multiple times with no problem.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Several other Capitol Hill reporters posted supportive comments in response to Cotton&#8217;s video, noting that it was in fact common for reporters to follow members of Congress to ask questions and to be allowed to move within the building unimpeded once they had passed through an initial security checkpoint at an entrance.<\/p>\n<p>This matches my own experience over the years when I have been in D.C. and been able to freely move about within the hallways of House and Senate office buildings, which have multiple entrances.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"be5f6c8919907babbc35572287d64e35\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A senator can say no comment or say nothing, but reporters have every right to ask him questions in a public hallway <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UnBUfRg1Zs\">https:\/\/t.co\/UnBUfRg1Zs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/igorbobic\/status\/2082903649869562177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"8f332a7c8d2eed4e6632d97639930334\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Unbelievable still from this clip of Ricketts attempting to get TMZ stopped by Cap Police (despite the fact they\u2019re credentialed media already inside the building) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/EtO9GMk0Yb\">https:\/\/t.co\/EtO9GMk0Yb<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FJjztHzah8\">pic.twitter.com\/FJjztHzah8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Benjamin S. Weiss (@BenjaminSWeiss) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BenjaminSWeiss\/status\/2082903618907185288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"915de81f5b086abe53b9a98882085bc6\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What is this? Senator Ricketts asks Capitol Police to restrain Charlie from continuing to ask him questions about Mitch McConnell saying \u201che needs to go through security.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Only one issue \u2014 they were coming from the basement, which is inside the building, meaning Charlie, a\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Ad2G1UrEYv\">https:\/\/t.co\/Ad2G1UrEYv<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Julian Andreone (@JulianAndreone) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JulianAndreone\/status\/2082888247441506523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"c797cff3621d92cd1db476cdce5ffe46\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is ludicrous! Charlie is doing his job and posed no security threat to Ricketts <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0Y9QGPsqLK\">https:\/\/t.co\/0Y9QGPsqLK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/EricMGarcia\/status\/2082890714082353207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"82206c8545b264a72aa0d2625cb1e1f7\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Why did Capitol Police stop a reporter from asking questions?<\/p>\n<p>(The answer is because Sen. Pete Ricketts asked them to, but this is a wholly inappropriate use of the Capitol Police.) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BTfEkGFVPF\">https:\/\/t.co\/BTfEkGFVPF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MEPFuller\/status\/2082902914347979087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ricketts later posted an apology in response to Cotton&#8217;s tweet.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"02a47a12420a50dcbc8041ba0e94d419\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I reacted poorly. I appreciate <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hicharliecotton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@hicharliecotton<\/a> taking my phone call so I could apologize.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Senator Pete Ricketts (@SenatorRicketts) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorRicketts\/status\/2082934112143216984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;I reacted poorly,&#8221; Ricketts wrote. &#8220;I appreciate [Cotton] taking my phone call so I could apologize.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Cotton responded graciously, writing that he accepted the apology, adding &#8220;I respect anyone who can take accountability when they make a mistake.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"02cd92663af7bf3f1c0552b9ec989f28\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I accept your apology Pete. I respect anyone who can take accountability when they make a mistake. Thank u for the call &#8211; I look fwd to our next conversation.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; CHARLIE COTTON (@hicharliecotton) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hicharliecotton\/status\/2082937767336501426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Thank u for the call &#8211; I look fwd to our next conversation,&#8221; Cotton concluded.<\/p>\n<p>Morell, the other reporter at the scene, tweeted that he is still waiting his apology.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed_container\" id=\"ae924691e83813b4b97e5e01e7f5e74c\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Can I get an apology too <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenatorRicketts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SenatorRicketts<\/a>?<\/p>\n<p>You accused me of doing the same thing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CxSaKPx04f\">https:\/\/t.co\/CxSaKPx04f<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Myles Morell (@MorellMedia) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MorellMedia\/status\/2082953644106727500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>This article has been updated with additional information.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\/media\/gop-senator-calls-over-capitol-police-to-help-him-evade-tmz-reporter-asking-about-mitch-mcconnell\/\">GOP Senator Calls Over Capitol Police to Help Him Evade TMZ Reporter Asking About Mitch McConnell<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaite.com\">Mediaite<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Screenshot via X. Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) really did not want to answer questions from TMZ DC reporter Charlie Cotton about Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), even enlisting the Capitol Police to help him escape. McConnell, 84, has been hospitalized\u00a0since June 14. Several Republicans have said they have spoken to him on the phone, but rumors&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/am11.mediaite.com\/med\/cnt\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-30-at-2-47-06-PM-1200x689.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23048","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23048","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23048"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23048\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23048"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23048"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23048"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}