An election-night party in Amsterdam, New York turned into a media flashpoint Thursday when Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino ordered a 7 News reporter and cameraman out of the building, mid-speech, while the 11 p.m. newscast was live on air. Constantino thanked President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Roger Stone, then ripped into what he called the “evil news media,” naming reporter Garrett Domblewski and anchor Jeff Cole and leading the crowd in a “Kick him out” chant. Five or six security guards escorted Domblewski outside.
The twist: the campaign had invited media to the event and said it looked forward to seeing the crew. Domblewski had interviewed Constantino cordially earlier that evening and told viewers he was not sure what triggered the ejection. He finished his live coverage from the parking lot. Constantino was leading Democrat Blake Gendebien in the race for New York’s 21st Congressional District.
The incident is reigniting familiar debates about press access and candidate conduct, and it hit airwaves at the very start of the local news, meaning viewers around the Suncoast and beyond saw it unfold in real time. For a region that follows politics closely, it’s a reminder that how candidates handle scrutiny often says as much as their platforms do. Do you think a campaign has the right to remove reporters it invited? Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
