With Journalists Like These, Who Needs Dictators?

Image: Republican Speaker-select Cameron Sexton interviewed by the Capitol Hill Press Corps after winning his nomination from the caucus. Image Credit: Tennessee Capitol Press Corps / Facebook

Submitted by Steven C. Knapp –

In early February the national Associated Press was denied access to an Oval Office press conference for refusing to acknowledge the controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico. This incident highlights a broader trend of press restrictions and selective access, a pattern also unfolding in Tennessee, with some surprise enforcers.

Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton actively restricts access to his “pressers,” but the deeper issue isn’t just his policy—it’s the bias of those enforcing it.

Kim Kruesi, president of the Capitol Hill Press Corps and the capitol reporter for the AP Nashville office, plays a central role in legitimizing Sexton’s arbitrary exclusions. Instead of defending and advocating for equal access for journalists, Kruesi uses her position of power to influence and control who gets access and who doesn’t.

Justin Kanew, an independent journalist, has faced repeated denials of access under Sexton’s restrictive policies, along with other independent outlets of various political leanings.

I questioned Kruesi about Kanew’s denial via Instagram – ultimately resulting in her running away without answering, just like Tennessee’s state legislators run away from Kanew.

Kruesi falsely labeled Kanew as a “lobbyist”—an outright lie.

Kanew denies receiving funding from special interests to influence the outcome of proposed legislation, which is how Black’s Law Dictionary defines “lobbyist.”

Sexton often repeats that talking point while giggling. Kruesi did not provide additional criteria supporting her judgment when asked at a later date, and appeared to cite bias/legitimacy as a basis for exclusion.

Kanew pointed out the Corps accepts members who previously worked for lawmakers, like Vivian Jones, a former legislative aide to Senator Brian Kelsey, who pled guilty to federal felony campaign finance violations, fraud, etc. 

That begs the question: How does the Corps justify credentialing a former partisan staffer while denying access to an independent journalist who has never worked for a lawmaker, or a felon, and denies taking special interest dollars? Again, Kruesi refused to answer in a followup to our conversation, however, no answer is still an answer. 

These double standards and outright lies create the appearance that the so-called “Capitol Press Corps” are merely Sexton’s political minions rather than a press organization, after all, they unanimously voted to exclude Kanew. In our Instagram exchange, Kruesi refused to specify what rules Kanew allegedly violated, and specifically how, or even clarify if “the rules” even exist in a written format. Again, no answer. 

Kruesi’s lack of transparency underscores the arbitrary nature of her/the Corp’s interpretations and the broader effort to control access rather than facilitate an open press environment. Kruesi also refuses to acknowledge the power of Kanew’s unscheduled interviews, a valid and critical approach for those without access to hold officials accountable when they spout nonsense or just flat out refuse to answer – just like Kruesi refuses to answer. See the pattern, yet?

Kruesi dismisses Kanew’s illuminating style entirely, saying it “proves nothing” (NewsChannel5’s Phil Williams, who has made an art out of the unscheduled interview, would likely disagree). 

Kruesi’s invalid dismissals merely reinforce the idea that only those within her approved circle deserve access to elected officials. By selectively deciding who qualifies as “legitimate” media, Sexton, Kruesi, and the so-called “Capitol Hill Press Corps” reinforce an exclusionary system that undermines the fundamental principles of equal access for journalists, whether independent or affiliated with an organization, and the public.

Rather than serving as a neutral watchdog, the “Capitol Press Corp” acts as a lackey does, protecting those in power from scrutiny and tough questions the “legitimate” press isn’t asking. Sexton’s policies may set the stage, but Kruesi’s dismissive influence ensures that only approved voices get access. With journalists like these, who needs dictators?

About the Author: Steven C. Knapp is a former Assignment Editor at WSMV News4 and NewsChannel5, an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, recipient of the Nashville Emerging Leader Award, and an advocate for the rule of law.