Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt began and ended his interview with Tom Price on Friday beseeching the Health and Human Services director to help get charges dropped against a journalist who was arrested earlier this week shouting a question.
Public News Service reporter Dan Heyman was arrested in West Virginia on Tuesday for persisting in trying to get an answer from Price as he entered the state capitol building.
Hewitt took the opportunity of lobbying Price on behalf of Heyman, "a member of my tribe."
"I know we can be jerks, and I know we can yell, etc., but we shouldn't be arrested even when we are totally off the charts screaming at people," Hewitt told Price. "And I would hope that you'd visit with your press people and come up with the idea that maybe you can give a nudge to the West Virginians to drop this."
Price repeatedly said it was a matter for local authorities and that it wasn't "his call" to drop the charges — willful disruption of governmental processes, a misdemeanor offense.
"But arresting a journalist is not something we do in the United States. That's what I would hope you would consider that," Hewitt told Price.
Hewitt ended the interview with the last word on it as well:
"And I hope you'll go back and consider calling our friends in West Virginia and telling them the person, drop the charges. I have to speak for the tribe, Mr. Secretary. I have to speak for the tribe.
Price: "Well, I appreciate that, but that's not my call."
Hewitt: "OK, you can advise. Thank you, Mr. Secretary."
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