Donald Trump‘s campaign is issuing new rules about how close reporters can get to the candidate.
The new, more formal and stringent guidelines come on the heels of the Michelle Fields–Corey Lewandowksi debacle in which Lewandowksi either yanked her and finger bruised her (or touched her in some capacity) at a campaign event in Jupiter, Fla. when she allegedly got too close to Trump.
“We knew it was going to have some effect on all of the campaigns but especially Mr Trump in availability and interaction with the press and public,” a source close to the campaign told The Mirror.
Fields is still considering a defamation lawsuit against Trump’s campaign and Lewandowski after he called her “delusional” and said he’d never met her and that the incident never happened. “I’m not going to rule it out. Do I think that they defamed me? Absolutely,” she said Sunday on CNN’s “Reliable Sources.”
The Mirror reached out to Ms. Fields for comment. She did not immediately reply.
The language from a document from the Trump campaign concerning tonight’s New York primary event are as follows:
“Members of the press are required to remain in designated media area until the event concludes. Please note that there are additional security measures now in place and all protocols must be followed accordingly. …Press may leave at conclusion of speech but may not approach the front of house with their equipment. ”
Gee, thanks Michelle.
UPDATE: Apparently Michelle Fields doesn’t like to be asked for comment when a story involves her. But what the hell? I did my journalistic duty and wrote her. Here’s how she replied: “Girl, you need a hobby. Or adopt a dog or something. Your obsession with me is unhealthy.” I wrote back: “Yeah, apparently so does the rest of the media writing stories on you.
Just giving you a professional courtesy to ask you for comment. If you don’t want it, don’t respond. Don’t really give a shit.”