Joe Johns “Vindicated:” Radio/TV Gallery Says CNN Didn’t Ambush Sen. Stevens

By Brian on May 15, 2006 7:09 PM

Remember Sen. Ted Stevens‘ complaint about a so-called “ambush interview” by CNN’s Joe Johns last week?

Roll Call said Stevens filed his complaint with “the Senate Radio/TV Gallery, the office charged with overseeing broadcast reporters, and the Rules and Administration Committee.”

Today, the gallery’s executive committee met and found that the incident “was not an ambush interview.” Furthermore, the committee said, “Joe Johns did not act unethically or deceptively,” and “the rules in place governing camera coverage on Capitol Hill are outdated, unclear and open to differing interpretations.”

In a statement, CNN said: “We’re happy to see that Joe Johns has been vindicated and pleased to see that the committee is willing to take up these important access issues.”

Click continued to read the full text of the committee’s findings…

“The Executive Committee finds:

1) The incident that occurred in the Ohio Clock Corridor last Tuesday was not an ambush interview as Senator Stevens and his staff have suggested.

2) Joe Johns did not act unethically or deceptively.

3) The rules in place governing camera coverage on Capitol Hill are outdated, unclear and open to differing interpretations.

4) The Executive Committee bears some responsibility for the incident because we were at the time engaged in a very public campaign for greater camera access. The Executive Committee wants to state for the record that it had no advance knowledge of Joe’s plans. The Executive Committee would also like to state for the record that his was NOT part of our overall campaign for greater camera access on Capitol Hill.

5) The Executive Committee urges CNN and other RTCA members to refrain from the use of small handheld cameras in the Ohio Clock Corridor while we endeavor to clarify and update the rules governing TV coverage on Capitol Hill.”