The Environmental Protection Agency blocked reporters from multiple major outlets from attending a national summit on water contamination Tuesday. Security reportedly forcibly removed one reporter from the building.
Journalists from CNN, The Associated Press and environmental news agency E&E News were not allowed in to the summit while EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was speaking.
An EPA spokesperson said in a statement, "This was simply an issue of the room reaching capacity, which reporters were aware of prior to the event."
But according theThe Hilland Politico, several seats at the event were empty.
Press secretary Sarah Sanders said the White House would look into the matter but told reporters to refer to statements from the EPA.
Following the reports and subsequent backlash, the EPA allowed more reporters into the second half of the meeting. CNN reports Pruitt did not speak in that portion of the summit.
