New York Times Reporter Had Police Called on Her While Trying to Cover House Republican’s Fundraiser

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

A New York Times reporter attempting to cover a fundraiser for Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) was shut out of the event and subsequently had police called on her.

Kean returned to the House on June 30 after a 116-day absence, during which his office provided scant details about medical treatment he was receiving. His office did not elaborate beyond that. In a floor speech that day, Kean revealed he had been treated for depression. The lawmaker, who previously voted against mandatory paid sick leave, received his congressional salary while he was away.

On Friday night, Tracey Tully of the Times reported that earlier that morning, she tried to cover a fundraiser for Kean, who represents New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, which is very much in play for Democrats in November. The event, which also featured Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), was held at the private Hawk Pointe Golf Club in Washington Township.

Tully explained that she was denied entry to the fundraiser, but Liz Elkin of Fox News was allowed in:

Mr. Kean was the first of the politicians to appear. His wife, Rhonda, dropped him off at the front door. Mr. Johnson and a caravan of cars carrying his aides and security officers pulled up a few minutes later.

Inside, local Republican politicians like Brad Myhre, the mayor of Frenchtown, N.J., and Leonard Lance, a former congressman, mingled with a former Yankees star, Mark Teixeira, who posed for a photo with Mr. Kean.

A reporter for The New York Times was blocked at the door by Mr. Kean’s spokesman, Harrison Neely, who claimed that the event was private and that the media was not welcome. Hours later, however, he acknowledged that at least one reporter, Liz Elkind of Fox News, had been invited in.

Tully went on to say that she waited in a car in the parking lot hoping for a chance to speak with Kean or Johnson. However, someone did not appreciate her presence there either:

That’s when things got weird.

A sergeant from the local police department in Washington Township appeared on the scene. Someone apparently had called the police from inside the club to report that there was a trespasser — this reporter — on the premises. (This despite the fact that New Jersey State Police troopers were stationed outside the country club, as was Mr. Johnson’s security detail.)

The officer, Sgt. Dallas Overko, amiably assessed the situation. He seemed somewhat confounded by the call.

“I didn’t know it was just a nice little reporter waiting for an interview,” Sergeant Overko said.

He headed inside to figure out what was going on and then returned a few minutes later to say that it was OK to remain in the parking lot.

“I guess there were some things lost in communication,” Sergeant Overko said.

Kean left the fundraiser without speaking to the media, though Johnson did.

“You know, if it were me, I would have done it a little sooner,” Johnson said of Kean’s handling of the long absence.

“What he was dealing with affects many millions of Americans,” he said, “so I think people understand that.”

In a Truth Social post on June 1 – while Kean was still absent from Congress with little explanation – President Donald Trump endorsed him.

“GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” the president wrote.

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