Reporter arrested after repeatedly questioning Health secretary

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© Provided by The Hill Reporter arrested after repeatedly questioning Health secretary

Dan Heyman, a reporter for Public News Service, said he was arrested at the West Virginia State Capitol after trying to ask Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price a question about the House-passed healthcare bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

In a press conference held shortly after posting bail, Heyman said he asked Price repeatedly about whether domestic violence is considered a preexisting condition under the new GOP healthcare bill.

According to Heyman's account, he waited for Price to come into the building and then reached past those accompanying Price with his phone and repeatedly asked his healthcare questions, adding that a number of other reporters wanted to bring up the issue of preexisting conditions.

He said capitol police at some point "decided I was just too persistent in asking this question and trying to do my job and so they arrested me."

He couldn't remember how many times he asked the question, he said, but he added that it is his job to ask questions, expressing disbelief that he was arrested.

"First time I've ever been arrested for asking a question. First time I've ever heard of someone getting arrested for asking a question," he said.

Heyman said he asked his questions in a public space and received no warnings that he was in the wrong place or doing other activities to warrant his arrest.

"No police officer told me 'you're in the wrong place,'" he said.

The police "put hands on me, although they didn't hurt me, certainly," he added.

Heyman asked them if he was under arrest, according to his version of events, and they said "yes." He also said he told the police he was a member of the press.

The police didn't immediately read him his Miranda Rights, he added, because they said they were not asking him questions.

"It's dreadful. This is my job, this is what I'm supposed to do. I'm supposed to find out if someone is going to be affected by this healthcare law... I think it is a question that deserves to be answered," he added.

Heyman had to pay $5,000 bond and was charged with willful disruption of governmental processes, a misdemeanor.

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