Rep. Steve Chabot Criticized By Tea Party Activists For Seizing Cameras From Democrats At Town WASHINGTON --
After banning and confiscating cameras at his town hall events, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) is taking heat from all sides -- including from Tea Party activists Eric Odom and Judson Phillips.
At a town hall meeting on Monday, a Chabot staffer directed a Cincinnati police officer to seize video cameras and cell phones from two Democratic activists who were attending the event.
This is the first report of cameras being confiscated at Chabot's town halls, although he has been banning them since at least June.
Chabot spokesman Jamie Schwartz said the policy was meant "to protect the privacy of constituents," saying there were "multiple instances where constituents voiced their concern about being videotaped when asking a question that revealed private information."
Members of the media were also filming at Monday's event, but their cameras were not taken.
The progressive advocacy group Americans United for Change sent out a press release Wednesday about Chabot's event. "At Steve Chabot’s recent Cincinnati town hall, Chabot took an extraordinary step, banning constituents from filming the town hall and asking questions directly," the group wrote. "What didn’t he want people outside the event to see? Perhaps his defense of tax cuts for billionaires and Wall Street corporations.".......................>>>>.........................................>>>>......................http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/25/steve-chabot-tea-party-cameras-town-halls_n_936465.html
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