Breitbart News’ ties to the White House have complicated things for the pro-Trump, populist news site as it tries to receive permanent press credentials to cover Capitol Hill.
The Standing Committee of the Senate Press Gallery, which oversees the credentialing process, on Monday denied granting Breitbart’s request to receive permanent credentials, according a report in the Daily Beast.
The committee made the decision in large part over what it said are standing questions over White House political strategist Steve Bannon’s involvement with the site. The Daily Beast report said, however, that Breitbart is still issued temporary press passes in the meantime.
Before joining President Trump’s election campaign, Bannon was the chairman of Breitbart.
Breitbart’s current president, Larry Solov, sent a letter to the committee stating that Bannon was fully removed from operations at Breitbart “on or about November 13, 2016.”
But the committee said it had more questions, according to the Daily Beast’s report, including “the fuller explanations of roles of people on the masthead, explanation of any of their roles on other Bannon-related projects (Glittering Steel production company, Government Accountability Institute), clarification on news reports that Rebekah Mercer is involved in Breitbart editorial decisions, and more information on the location of Breitbart’s office.”
