CNN GAL’S ‘GOON’
April’s guard charged with assault on editor
A bodyguard for CNN political analyst April Ryan was charged with assault on Monday for allegedly forcibly removing another reporter from a New Jersey event where the cable-news personality was speaking.
“This was more than just an assault on me,” tweeted New Brunswick Today editor Charlie Kratovil. “This was an assault on freedom of the press.”
A criminal complaint dated Aug. 19 charges the bodyguard — Joel Morris, 30, of Illinois — with harassment, assault and theft, according to NJ.com
Kratovil claims he was violently tossed from the New Jersey Parent Summit on Aug. 3 by Ryan’s goon after he had spent two hours inside filming other guests and speakers without any problems.
Kratovil had been invited to cover the event at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick by a public-relations firm. Video posted online shows him sitting in the audience as Ryan takes the stage and starts speaking.
Moments later, Morris comes into view and Ryan says something to him. He promptly walks over to Kratovil and allegedly attempts to take his video camera.
“Put that down,” Kratovil yells. “Don’t you dare — put that down, sir! That’s my camera!”
A tussle ensues and Morris winds up walking Kratovil out of the venue — with Kratovil’s arm twisted around his back, the journalist says.
“This is a personal event,” Morris can be heard telling him. “You’re not allowed back in.”
A woman can be heard screaming at Kratovil at one point, saying, “How dare you come in here and interrupt this event like this!”
“I didn’t interrupt,” he fires back.
Kratovil posted a video on his Twitter page Monday, explaining how cops found “probable cause” to charge Morris with harassment, assault and theft.
“I was there to cover April Ryan’s speech,” Kratovil wrote. “Joel Morris stole [my] camera, high-tailed it out of the room. One thing led to another, I ended up being assaulted after retrieving the camera. But now Mr. Morris is going to have to show up on Sept. 12 . . . Superior Court.”
Ryan, in the past, has repeatedly voiced her outrage with Trump and how he treats the media. She even published a book last year — “Under Fire” — which talks about the challenges and attacks that journalists have faced in recent years.
She did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.
“Her silence is deafening at this point,” Kratovil told NJ.com. “It’s been more than two weeks. Anybody who’s a journalist should be condemning this.”