Dan Merica, a CNN reporter in the Hillary Clinton traveling press corps, called Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon’s excuse for a lack of press conferences “flatly not true” Sunday.
“There’s no reluctance,” Fallon said on CNN Sunday when asked about a lack of press conferences given by Hillary. The last time she gave one was December 4. “At the end of the day we will do an ‘avail,’ what would known as an avail to the people in your business, where she informally comes out after an event has concluded — after she’s taken some photos and some selfies – and she’ll literally stand there for 15-20 minutes and answer questions from there with her traveling press corps, including the embeds from the various networks, ” Fallon added.
“This explanation for Clinton’s lack of press access to her traveling press corps is flatly not true,” Merica tweeted out in response to Fallon’s statement.
“Bottom line is she’s answering questions from the reporters that are covering her day to day.” Zero ? since May 9. https://t.co/YdQm2KfySD
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) June 5, 2016
“She will literally stand there for 15, 20 min & answer ?s from her traveling press.” Nope. Last gaggle was 2 min. https://t.co/AZfz9JvQsP
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) June 5, 2016
Clinton has done nine gaggles – or informal Q&As – in 2016. Campaign says she does 2 interviews a day. https://t.co/IjTfJaDnd7
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) June 5, 2016
This reporter has been a member of the Clinton traveling press corps, and there was no “avail” at the end of the day.