Did Capitol Police go too far shielding journalists from senators?

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Varying reports of Capitol Police trying to “block” reporters from Senators headed into the chamber to vote have begun to surface on Twitter.

An officer smashed right into NBC's Lee-Anne Caldwell who was walking with a senator. Another reporter, who is pregnant, says she was also shoved. Lots of yelling between reporters and cops here, who are clearly blocking reporters from getting near senators.

— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) February 14, 2019

Very odd security setup on Senate side of Capitol. Police setting up security line and guarding every senator within a half foot, trying to block press on an orltherwise normal size press crowd. pic.twitter.com/yor8TO3KGw

— Paul Kane (@pkcapitol) February 14, 2019

This is simply not acceptable, and it is a violation of the norms that govern how reporters do their jobs at the Capitol.

The area where this happened is open to the press, who are doing a constitutional duty in holding elected representatives accountable. https://t.co/euitHZwZ6m

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) February 14, 2019