In response to the “fake news” Opinion piece written on April 12, with the headline, “Sun reporter booted from state GOP assembly for doing the right thing.” One crucial detail that the mainstream media conveniently omitted is that the state GOP informed specific reporters many days before, as well as on the morning of, that the GOP party had decided the state assembly would not be an “open” press event.

Sandra Fish was informed her name wouldn’t be included in the final press credentials list. Fish and The Colorado Sun were denied press credentials for continuing to lie about our organization in its fake news stories. Fish was informed that any press releases will be provided to her if/and when they are generated.

The state GOP also has the freedom of the First Amendment.

Fish sneaked into the venue, knowingly attending an event where she was not on the approved final press credentials list. Shortly thereafter, our executive security detail recognized her and approached Fish, requesting her departure. Despite the request, Fish refused to leave, leading to the involvement of law enforcement as she said she would not depart otherwise.

Every large organization goes through a credentialing process for events if there is a desire to have press on hand. If media are deemed not to be credible, they may not get credentialed. In this case, Fish, believing she was entitled to do whatever she wanted to do by stepping foot inside the event, trespassed on the grounds and violated that credentialing requirement.

Hope Scheppelman

Bayfield