CNN is having an epically bad week in terms of their on-air personalities getting caught up in scandal. You already know about Chris Cuomo, as we’ve covered that already.
But another set of videos emerged last night (while I was at Bible study) that show April Ryan looking on as her thug bodyguard violently ejects a local news guy from an event that she was keynoting.
Below are two videos I’ve found, showing what happened. The first video shows it from the local news man’s camera and the second from the hotel security camera:
Here’s what happened via, Charlie Kratovil, the man whose camera was taken away. He works for the independent New Brunswick Today and was invited to the event:
On Friday 8/2, I RSVP’ed to Mr. Melli and specifically stated that I wanted to attend “Saturday’s keynote speech.” There was a full day of other stuff scheduled that day, the second day of the 3-day “summit” sponsored by a bunch of NJ groups that push for more charter schools. pic.twitter.com/CVcs0src2t
— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019
Here’s more from Kratovil who details what happened, taken from his twitter feed:
I recorded the remarks of Assemblywoman @shavondasumter without incident, as well as the presentation of two “Parent of the Year” awards, and a pleasant surprise that was not listed on the summit agenda: a musical performance by Newark’s own @leahjeneamusic.
At about 8:30pm, Rep. Payne took to the stage to introduce the keynote speaker, Ms. Ryan. During the intro, this man came up to me, mentioned my video camera & asked me “Who are you with?” I gave him my card & explained that I followed the proper channels to cover the event.
I asked if he had a card & he responded by saying he was “with the speaker.” He left & I thought this would be the end of it, but the mystery man returned, threatening to “take… down” my camera if I did not do so myself. I declined to acquiesce to this threat from a stranger.
Just as Rep. Payne was praising Ms. Ryan for her recent @rcfp “Freedom of the Press” award, the public relations people started to gather around me at my table, pressuring me to stop recording. As soon as things started going south, I began recording audio of our conversation.
I maintained a firm position re: video recording, saying I wouldn’t take action until I could get more info on the man who threatened to mess w/ my camera. I told them “If he doesn’t give me his name & tell me on the record why I can’t , I’m not turning off the camera.”
Then a woman who did not explain her role tried to negotiate w/ me, saying I could record audio & “pull quotes” from it if I wanted to. I tried to explain that I wasn’t writing an article and that the purpose of my attendance was to video record the speech. Just doing my job.
This woman, who I later learned is Shennell McCloud, the Executive Director of “Project Ready,” insisted that Ms. Ryan would not take the stage unless my camera was gone, but moments later, Ms. Ryan took the stage. At this point, we all left the room to discuss further.
The mystery man, still refusing to give his name, returned to the ballroom. I warned him not to touch my camera.
At the same time, Ms. Ryan was thanking Rep. Payne for his introduction, stating “it’s an honor to be in your district.” (New Brunswick is not in his district.)
Ms. Ryan’s remarks were then interrupted by a visit from the mystery man, who I later learned is named Joel Morris and works as a “security guard” for Ms. Ryan. Mr. Morris approached the podium & said something to her. She nodded and went silent for the next 27 seconds.
Rather than, you know, pushing the camera’s record button to stop the video recording (or just turning it off), Mr. Morris proceeded to unplug my camera, grab the tripod it was connected to, and steal the entire thing.
As soon as Mr. Morris touched our camera, I spoke up, saying: “Don’t touch my camera, please. Put that down. Don’t you dare. Put that down, sir.” At the same time, Ms. Ryan began attempting to explain to the crowd why they were witnessing the theft of our camera.
“When I speak, I don’t have news covering my speech,” explained Ms. Ryan, adding she wanted to be able to have an “unfettered” discussion. Never mind the other video camera (or the other news reporter) that still remained in the room.
NOTE: this is where the surveillance video above begins…
Now guilty of 3rd-degree theft of movable property under NJ law , Mr. Morris fled towards to the front desk of the hotel, bringing the stolen property w/ him. I gathered some of my belongings and caught up w/ the thief, demanding he return the camera. He eventually gave it up.
This should have been the end of it. I had retrieved the property that Mr. Morris had stolen from me, and at this point, I had ZERO interest in returning to an event where I had quickly come to feel unwelcome. But then Mr. Morris began to get violent w/ me right there.
I was carrying my phone (which was recording audio) in one hand & the camera/tripod in the other. I tried to get away from the perpetrator, but within seconds, he began assaulting me without provocation in the lobby & continued his assault as he forced me out of the building.
I screamed and used some profane language towards Mr. Morris as he grabbed my left arm and twisted it behind my back, injuring my forearm and shoulder. I later gave a statement to NBPD’s Ryan Daughton & he told me that he’d prepare a police report. I intend to press charges.
He should absolutely press charges. After all, he was invited specifically to the keynote, but because April Ryan wanted to speak off-camera, her thug violently threw him out of the place. What a despicable display.
And we all know why she wanted to speak off-camera. I’ve no doubt that the things she wanted to say would have been so revealing of her anti-Trump liberal bias that it probably would have gotten her fired or possibly ruined her career. Remember, she isn’t just an on-air personality at CNN, but also a PBS White House reporter as well.