VIDEO: April Ryan’s Bodyguard Accused of Assaulting Reporter

Fox News has confirmed that a bodyguard for CNN’s April Ryan did indeed ‘violently’ remove a journalist from an event where Ryan was the keynote speaker on August 3rd. The journalist, Charlie Kratovil, has these events laid out through a series of tweets in a very long thread which gives his side of the story of what happened.

According to screenshots shown on verified Twitter user and ‘freelance field producer’ Marcus J. DiPaola, April Ryan is ‘not apologizing’ for the incident as of last night but rather blocking people on Twitter for bringing it up. He also retweeted some of journalist Kartovil’s tweets showing videos of the incident.

This is bad PR for CNN, as it comes in the same week as Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo are both embroiled in scandal. Lemon is being sued for an alleged assault and Cuomo was busted losing his cool in a now-viral video where he was offended for being referred to as ‘Fredo‘.

From Fox News:

Charlie Kratovil, editor of New Brunswick Today, was on hand to cover a speech given by Ryan at the 4th annual New Jersey Parent Summit, which focuses on “educating, empowering and preparing parents for our future leaders,” on Aug. 3 at The Heldrich Hotel.

After covering the event for roughly three hours “without incident,” Kratovil claims he was approached by a man, who he said he later found out was Ryan’s security guard Joel Morris.

“During the intro, this man came up to me, mentioned my video camera & asked me ‘Who are you with?'” Kratovil wrote on Twitter. “I gave him my card & explained that I followed the proper channels to cover the event. I asked if he had a card & he responded by saying he was ‘with the speaker.'”

If you follow the tweets below in sequence it will give you whole the story as portrayed by Kratovil. There are two videos and viewer discretion is advised.

The kicker here is what Ryan had to say while the incident was going down, also from Fox News:

As Kratovil and Morris begin causing a scene, Ryan explains to the crowd, “When I speak, I don’t have news covering my speech.” Kratovil said another journalist was recording her speech.

As of this writing, Media Right News has not been able to find any statements made yet on the incident by April Ryan.

SEE TWEETS FROM @marcusdipaola BELOW:

.@AprilDRyan's security guard assaulted a journalist and stole his camera. He says he intends to press charges. The video is really something else. https://t.co/pkA4EgKY7W

— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) August 13, 2019

Here is the surveillance video from the hotel, provided to me by Charlie. It shows @AprilDRyan's bodyguard trying to snatch his camera and assaulting the local reporter. The video ends with the bodyguard dragging him out of the building. pic.twitter.com/rnAM0iVNEc

— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) August 14, 2019

SEE LONG TWEET THREAD FROM @Charlie4Change BELOW:

I’m the editor of @NB_Today & our team was explicitly invited to attend & cover the event by @juanmelli (Mercury Public Affairs) on 7/25 & again on 8/1.

We also published a very fair preview article that highlighted Ms. Ryan’s scheduled keynote speech: https://t.co/3SadzDIzNh

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

I had no intention to write any articles, or to ask Ms. Ryan any questions. Unlike many stories I do, I wasn’t digging deep or trying to put anyone on the spot. Just thought it was cool that a well-known journo was speaking in my city & something our audience might appreciate.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

On the big night, I arrived at @TheHeldrich Hotel at about 6:45pm, 15 mins. before the “Parent Awards” ceremony was set to begin. As instructed, I checked in w/ @willherberich who apparently works with a different PR firm (PACE Education Strategies) than the one that invited us.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

I spent nearly 3 hours at the #NJParentSummit without incident. Before the program began, I introduced myself to @RepDonaldPayne and thanked him for his recent support of impeaching the President. I also helped take a couple photos for a woman who wanted one w/ the Congressman.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

I recorded the remarks of Assemblywoman @shavondasumter without incident, as well as the presentation of two “Parent of the Year” awards, and a pleasant surprise that was not listed on the summit agenda: a musical performance by Newark's own @leahjeneamusic.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

I asked if he had a card & he responded by saying he was “with the speaker." He left & I thought this would be the end of it, but the mystery man returned, threatening to "take… down" my camera if I did not do so myself.

I declined to acquiesce to this threat from a stranger.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

I maintained a firm position re: video recording, saying I wouldn't take action until I could get more info on the man who threatened to mess w/ my camera.

I told them "If he doesn’t give me his name & tell me on the record why I can’t , I’m not turning off the camera.”

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

This woman, who I later learned is Shennell McCloud, the Executive Director of “Project Ready," insisted that Ms. Ryan would not take the stage unless my camera was gone, but moments later, Ms. Ryan took the stage.

At this point, we all left the room to discuss further.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

Ms. Ryan’s remarks were then interrupted by a visit from the mystery man, who I later learned is named Joel Morris and works as a “security guard” for Ms. Ryan.

Mr. Morris approached the podium & said something to her. She nodded and went silent for the next 27 seconds.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

As soon as Mr. Morris touched our camera, I spoke up, saying: “Don’t touch my camera, please. Put that down. Don’t you dare. Put that down, sir.”

At the same time, Ms. Ryan began attempting to explain to the crowd why they were witnessing the theft of our camera.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019

Now guilty of 3rd-degree theft of movable property under NJ law , Mr. Morris fled towards to the front desk of the hotel, bringing the stolen property w/ him.

I gathered some of my belongings and caught up w/ the thief, demanding he return the camera. He eventually gave it up.

— Charlie Kratovil (@Charlie4Change) August 5, 2019