Dem Benghazi Committee Staffer Kicked Out of Press Conference

A Democratic staffer for the House Benghazi Select Committee was kicked out of Tuesday’s press conference by House Gallery staff.

A source in the room tells Mediaite that Democratic communications staffer Paul Bell was present as Trey Gowdy and other Republicans spoke about the Committee’s findings, passing along the above photo as proof.

Our source maintains that Bell was prohibited from attending the press conference. House Gallery rules state that staffers can only attend events if accompanied by their member of Congress, and none of the Democratic Committee members showed up. Per our source, Bell managed to get in by “sneaking in past Gallery staff.”

When reached by Mediate, however, Bell disputed this characterization. He points out that as a congressional press secretary, he is exempt from the rules that normally prevent House staff from attending a press conference unaccompanied by a Congressman.

Either way, in the end, Gallery staff removed Bell halfway through the press conference.

UPDATE (7:45 AM, 6/9/2016): Updated, with Bell’s comments. Originally, this piece stated as fact that Bell’s conduct was against the rules, it’s been edited to reflect that that may be a matter of debate.
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