Watchdog group criticizes denial of WA capitol press credentials to journalist

(The Center Square) – The Citizen Action Defense Fund (CADF) is threatening legal action against the Washington State House of Representatives and the WA State Capitol Correspondents Association for denying talk show radio host Ari Hoffman press credentials.

“The right to gather news is not a privilege granted at the discretion of political bodies or private associations,” said CADF Executive Director Jackson Maynard wrote in a letter to House Laurie Jinkins, Chief Clerk Bernard Dean, and Capitol Correspondents Association representative Jerry Cornfield. “It is a core constitutional right. Denying a journalist access to the people’s House raises profound legal and civil rights concerns.”

For decades, press credentialing was overseen by the CCA, which last year handed that authority back over to the state Legislature. The Senate proceeded to bar reporters from...