CNN says its correspondent excluded from White House event

CNN said on Wednesday thatone of its White House correspondents, Kaitlan Collins, was excluded from covering one of U.S. President Donald Trump's events onWednesday, prompting a complaint by the White HouseCorrespondents Association.

Collins was barred from a Rose Garden event for askingquestions at an earlier event about an audio recording of Trumppurportedly speaking with his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, about afund being established to pay a former Playboy model, KarenMcDougal, for keeping quiet about an alleged affair with Trump.

Collins asked about the audio recording in a picture-takingsession in the Oval Office as Trump met with European CommissionPresident Jean-Claude Juncker.

CNN said in a statement that Collins was told by White Housecommunications director Bill Shine and press secretary SarahSanders that her questions had been "inappropriate" and that shecould not attend an event later in the Rose Garden during whichTrump and Juncker announced a joint working dialogue on trade.

"This decision to bar a member of the press is retaliatoryin nature and not indicative of an open and free press. Wedemand better," CNN said.

Trump has frequently complained about CNN's coverage of hispresidency, saying he feels it is unfair.

In a statement that did not name Collins, Sanders said thata reporter had shouted questions and refused to leave at theconclusion of an Oval Office press event "despite repeatedlybeing asked to do so."

"Subsequently, our staff informed her she was not welcome toparticipate in the next event, but made clear that any otherjournalist from her network could attend," Sanders said.

Jay Wallace, president of Fox News, which is frequentlypraised by Trump, expressed support for CNN.

"We stand in strong solidarity with CNN for the right tofull access for our journalists as part of a free and unfetteredpress," Wallace said in a statement.

Olivier Knox, president of the White House CorrespondentsAssociation, denounced the White House decision.

"We strongly condemn the White House's misguided andinappropriate decision today to bar one of our members from anopen press event after she asked questions they did not like,"Knox said in a statement.

"This type of retaliation is wholly inappropriate,wrong-headed, and weak. It cannot stand.

"Reporters asking questions of powerful governmentofficials, up to and including the President, helps hold thosepeople accountable. In our republic, the WHCA supports theprerogative of all reporters to do their jobs without fear ofreprisal from the government," Knox said.