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Moulton’s campaign claims the person who signed up was a “paid political tracker” working for a Republican-aligned opposition organization.
Senate candidate Congressman Seth Moulton speaks to delegates at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention. John Tolomacki/The Boston Globe
A video posted on social media showing Rep. Seth Moulton knocking a phone out of someone’s hand sparked a dispute between the congressman’s campaign and Fox News over the identity of the person filming.
The video, posted by Fox News political editor Cameron Cawthorn, shows Moulton, who is currently challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in the state’s Democratic primary, arriving at an event when he is approached by someone recording on a cellphone.
“Congressman Moulton, do you support Graham Blatner? Do you support Graham Blatner in Maine?” the person asks as Moulton walks up the stairs toward the event. Moulton did not support Plattner, Boston Globe Reported in May.
The phone appears to fall out of the person’s hand, apparently after Moulton called him.
“You’ve got to do a better job of hanging up your phone,” Moulton says in the video.
According to Moulton’s campaign communications director, Taylor Heppell, the incident occurred when Moulton arrived at the 49th City Hall as part of a statewide “listening tour.”
Moulton’s campaign claimed the person recording was not a reporter but a “paid political tracker” working for him Rising Americaa Republican-aligned opposition organization that tracks Democratic candidates.
Heppell said America Rising “repeatedly harassed” Moulton and members of his campaign team at events throughout Massachusetts.
“It’s no surprise that Fox is too afraid to invite Seth back to its shows, but they’re happy to pay a MAGA tracker to harass him at multiple events across Massachusetts,” the campaign said in a statement. “Seth takes on MAGA anywhere, anytime, and he won’t back down. If this tracker can’t handle the reality check or keep his own gear, that’s on him.”
Fox News has rejected the claim that it paid the person who appeared in the video with Moulton.
“FOX News has never paid a tracker to attend an event,” a spokesperson for the outlet said in a statement to Boston.com.
Heppell said Fox News initially identified the person as a Fox News reporter before changing his description after the campaign contacted the network.
“Fox News incorrectly claimed and broadcast that this person was a Fox reporter, until we provided them with a statement,” she said. “Then they privately admitted that this person is a tracker, but they have not issued an official retraction yet as far as we know.”
Moulton also addressed the incident on Wednesday in a… Posted on X, Share a screenshot of Fox News coverage.
“MAGA model for labeling @AmericaRising follower as ‘reporter.’ “I will not apologize for how angry MAGA is with me,” Moulton wrote. “I will take them on anywhere, anytime, and I won’t back down.”
“If this tracker can’t handle the reality check or keep their own equipment, that’s on them,” the post continued. “Sorry, not sorry. And if Fox News wants me back on their airwaves so badly, they need to stop fooling my team.”
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