CNN Camera Woman Pelted With Nuts at GOP Convention: Were Suspects Republicans?
A National Republican Convention attendee was thrown out of Tampa, Fla. facility on Wednesday after being accused of throwing nuts at a black camerawoman.
The person who was escorted out was allegedly throwing peanuts at a black CNN camerawoman. "This is how we feed animals," the suspect said after throwing the nuts according to a Talking Points memo.
While the woman operating the camera has confirmed that the incident took place, she did not release any further details.
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"CNN can confirm there was an incident directed at an employee inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum earlier this afternoon," CNN said in a statement. "CNN worked with convention officials to address this matter and will have no further comment."
Both the name of the CNN worker and name or names of suspects have yet to be released. The Secret Service, which is responsible for all venue activity, reported to The Washington Post that the incident was not being considered as a police matter. Pressure has been put on CNN to reveal the complete details of the matter, which could pose as a distraction during the rest of the convention.
"How will the network balance a workplace issue- someone on the job enduring an insulting outburst- with a matter of public interest?" The Post asked. "Resolving that conflict must start with the preferences of the crew person. But the presumption should fall in favor of doing the story in all of its detail, regardless of whether the details are more or less damaging than what's been reported."
The suspects' affiliation to the event has also become a point of question.
"We need to know these people's affiliation with the GOP. It is possible these were delegates. In any event, they had to get tickets from some group," Erin O'Connell wrote on the WP blog. "I don't think they are for sale on Craigslist."
