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Waynesville’s town attorney reportedly tells local GOP leaders they must admit ACT reporter, but they decline; police called, journalist leaves to avoid escalation
From Staff Reports
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley’s campaign has established a growing pattern of restricted press access, including a July 18 incident at the Waynesville Recreation Center, where a local reporter was denied entry to a publicly advertised event held in a town-owned facility — and the police were called.
Specifically, Haywood County Republican Party Chair Kim Genova and Waynesville resident Shannon Morgan — the latter of whom reportedly said he had signed the room rental agreement — physically blocked entry to a conference room (where the event was held) to an Asheville Citizen Times reporter.
The clash occurred before Whatley arrived at the event, which appeared to attract around 30 attendees.Following are details about the Waynesville incident, which occurred on July 18:
• Haywood County GOP officials and organizers — allegedly — physically blocked Cory Vaillancourt, an ACT reporter, from entering a conference room — on the grounds that it was “a private event.”
(While the ACT’s Vaillancourt was barred from entry, Smoky Mountain News editor Kyle Perrotti was initially permitted inside, but refused to attend, stating he “could not abide press restrictions.”)
• Organizers claimed it was a “private event,” despite the Haywood County Republican Party advertising the event publicly “at least nine times” online without mentioning any ticket or RSVP requirements, the ACT reported on July 18.
• Vaillancourt, who refused to leave, then called Waynesville Town Attorney Martha Bradley, who immediately and explicitly explained to GOP organizers that excluding the press from a town-owned facility appeared to violate town policy.
• Local party officials refused to listen to the town’s legal counsel and, instead, called the police.
• After speaking with the responding police officers, Vaillancourt, the ACT reporter, then left peaceably, stating, according to a story in his newspaper, that he wanted to avoid “dangerous escalation” of the situation. Meanwhile, Perrotti, the SMN editor, boycotted the event entirely upon learning about the strict press restrictions.
Following are aspects of the broader media strategy imposed by Whatley’s campaign and its supporters, according to AI Overview on July 19:
• “The Waynesville incident follows similar restrictions at other stops, including a campaign event in Raleigh, where organizers threatened to call the police on a reporter from The Assembly and others.
• “Critics and state media outlets have noted Whatley —who is facing tough polls and tough questions about his past tenures — has increasingly avoided nonpartisan media, skipped out on specific reporter questions, and pivoted strictly to right-leaning outlets.”
Whatley is squaring off with former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, for the U.S. Senate seat held by the retiring Thom Tillis, a Republican, in the Nov. 3 general election.
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