California senator's staff member physically blocks journalist in public building

Audio By Carbonatix

(The Center Square) – A staff member of California Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced County, physically blocked The Center Square Monday from approaching the senator and asking questions about her recent bill concerning child abuse cases.

The reporter, who was wearing her press credentials, was waiting in a common area at the Capitol when Caballero and a staff member exited an elevator. At the same time, another staff member left the senator's and her staff's office, and he entered the hallway that leads to Caballero's office. This was the staff member who blocked the reporter from approaching Caballero in the hallway as the senator headed toward the office, which was around the corner.

The staffer in question would not give his name but said Caballero’s staff made it clear she would not answer questions about her bill, Senate Bill 1143. The Center Square also tried to ask questions of Caballero about her bill during a Senate floor session scheduled for Monday afternoon. She declined to answer questions during and after that floor session on Monday.

The Center Square also attempted to reach out to Caballero’s communications director earlier in the day by phone and email, but those phone calls and emails went unreturned as of Monday afternoon. Communications directors or press secretaries are often a lawmaker's first point of contact for journalists.

Caballero's legislation, Senate Bill 1143, would require the release of videos in which a child is interviewed in cases involving child abuse to child welfare agencies. The bill was introduced on Feb. 18. It's new enough that there's isn't a legislative analysis succinctly explaining the bill.

The Center Square also reached out to several law enforcement agencies throughout California on Monday, but most did not respond to The Center Square before deadline.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said through a spokesperson that the office has not taken a stance on the bill. Organizations in the social service and social work space like the National Association of Social Workers did not respond to The Center Square on Monday.