GOP Senator Calls Over Capitol Police to Help Him Evade TMZ Reporter Asking About Mitch McConnell

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 since June 14. Several Republicans have said they have spoken to him on the phone, but rumors and conspiracy theories have flourished online as he has remained out of the public eye, other than releasing statements through his staff and a few photos. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshears (D-KY) has called on the senator to either “directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of your capacity to serve, or resign.”

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.

“Ricketts sicked Capitol Police on me to get out of answering basic questions!” wrote Cotton in a tweet sharing the video.

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.

“Do you think Mitch McConnell needs to do more to prove his health?” Cotton asked.

“I think we should give Mitch the time he needs to be able to recover and come back to the Senate, and we’ll be praying for him, and wish him well.”

“Yeah, but we can give him the time he needs while also he provides –” Cotton said, as Ricketts called out, “Stop them” to the Capitol Police and gestured back at Cotton with his thumb.

“These guys are not — only he’s with me, these two are not,” said Ricketts, slapping the back of the staffer with him.

“Yeah, but I’m a reporter, sir,” said Cotton.

“He’s gotta go through security,” Ricketts said as he walked swiftly away.

“I already have been through security, sir!” Cotton called after the departing senator, turning and repeating, “I’ve already been through security” to the police officer.

“I came from downstairs, man!” Cotton said with a slightly dejected tone to his voice, the officer seemingly unmoved by his plight as his quarry escaped down the hallway.

Myles Morrell with Gateway Pundit shared Cotton’s video and revealed that he was the other reporter.

“I was there too,” wrote Morrell, denouncing Ricketts for claiming that the two reporters were “harassing” him.

“We are both Congressional reporters,” Morrell emphasized. “I have asked him questions multiple times with no problem.”

Several other Capitol Hill reporters posted supportive comments in response to Cotton’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.

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.

Ricketts later posted an apology in response to Cotton’s tweet.

“I reacted poorly,” Ricketts wrote. “I appreciate [Cotton] taking my phone call so I could apologize.”

Cotton responded graciously, writing that he accepted the apology, adding “I respect anyone who can take accountability when they make a mistake.”

“Thank u for the call – I look fwd to our next conversation,” Cotton concluded.

Morell, the other reporter at the scene, tweeted that he is still waiting his apology.

This article has been updated with additional information.

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