Senior Reporter
Journalist Tara Palmeri claims she was removed from aRepublicanNational Committee (RNC) event and had her press credential revoked after questioning a Republican congressional candidate about the handling of files connected to convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epstein.
Palmeri said she was covering the Republican Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas when security personnel approached her shortly after an interview with Robert Burke, a Republican candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ 8th Congressional District.
According to Palmeri, she entered the venue at approximately 2:05 p.m. with her producer and three survivors of Epstein’s abuse. Palmeri said she had a media credential, while each person accompanying her had obtained a guest pass and been admitted to the convention.
Palmeri posted footage of part of the encounter with security on X and described the circumstances surrounding her removal in her Substack newsletter,The Red Letter. In a later video, Palmeri said officials did not identify a specific rule she had violated.
The RNC has not publicly commented on Palmeri's claims of removal.
Newsweekreached out to Palmeri, Burke and the RNC by email for comment.
Tara Palmeri is an American political journalist and commentator best known for covering the White House, Congress and national politics. She has worked for major outlets including ABC News, Politico, CNN, and theNew York Post.
Palmeri said she introduced herself to Burke as an independent journalist before beginning the interview. She also disclosed that survivors of Epstein’s abuse were accompanying her and described the subject she wanted to raise as a “tough question.”
According to Palmeri’s account, Burke called Epstein a “great topic” and said the public needed to know what had happened “from the beginning.”
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Palmeri said she asked Burke why more records had not been released, why there had been no further prosecutions beyond Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and whether he would push for additional disclosures if elected. She reported that Burke said he would support releasing the files.
One of the survivors then told Burke that the issue should be viewed as a human rights matter rather than a partisan political dispute, according to Palmeri’s Substack post.
Palmeri said the conversation lasted approximately eight minutes and ended with Burke shaking her hand and giving the group his card. In her accompanying video, she characterized the exchange as a “great dialogue” and said Burke invited them to speak again.
Palmeri said at least three security personnel approached the group shortly after the interview ended. She reported that security asked whether they were carrying signs, which the group denied.
