Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) had yet another contentious interaction with the media on Friday when he reportedly walked out of an interview with The Guardian.
Staffers of The Guardian newspaper tweeted that Paul refused to answer a question from reporter Paul Lewis and abruptly ended the interview:
.@RandPaul refuses to answer @PaulLewis‘ question in the @GuardianUS periscope interview, abruptly walked off AS STAFFERS TURN OFF LIGHTS
— Katherine Krueger (@kath_krueger) April 10, 2015
That was astonishing. I can’t think of a single unfair question @PaulLewis asked @RandPaul.
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) April 10, 2015
@marincogan so @PaulLewis pressed @RandPaul on specific drug laws he’d repeal. Suddenly, interview over, lights off.
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) April 10, 2015
The exchange comes two days after Paul tussled with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie over his shifting foreign policy positions and got “testy” with Associated Press reporter Phillip Elliott when pressed about abortion bans.
Paul later disputed that his staff turned off the lights after he left the interview. The reporter from the Guardian conceded that point to Paul, but stood by the assertion that the Kentucky Republican abruptly ended the interview:
We didn’t turn the lights off and neither did my staff. CNN producers did. It was time for my interview with @DanaBashCNN – Team Rand
— Dr. Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 10, 2015
In fairness to @RandPaul campaign, they didn’t turn off the lights. (A CNN producer did.) Still: a shame he ended interview so abruptly.
— Paul Lewis (@PaulLewis) April 10, 2015
Video of the exchange posted by The Guardian doesn’t make it clear whether Paul peeled out of the interview to make another media appearance or walked out in response to Lewis’ line of questioning. Here’s a transcript of their conversation:
RP: I have a third bill — let me answer the question, you complain I don’t answer the question.
PL: I haven’t complained yet, have I senator?
RP: I’m giving you the specifics. So here’s the thing. We also have a civil forfeiture bill, we also have a voting rights restoration. I’ve got time for one more.
PL: One more question. Sorry, sometimes we have to be a bit forceful. When you stand for Presdient, you get pressed on questions and you understand that. Last question’s about campaign strategy. You gave that speech in that hall and you got a lot of enthusiastic response from people that care about criminal justice. Young people do, Democrats do, liberals do. You’re standing for the Republican nomination. All the research shows that Republicans — white Republicans who’re going to determine the outcome of this race — don’t think that the criminal law is applied in an unfair way. So how are you going to win the nomination with this —
RP: I think that’s incorrect. I think your premise is incorrect. Actually, I think that I can take that message into a white evangelical church anywhere in Iowa and give exactly the same speech and be received well.
At that point, Paul gestures to someone off-camera and walks away. Another person off-camera can be heard saying “Thanks, Paul.”
Watch below:
This post has been updated.
