RCMP physically removes Rebel News journalist from Trudeau press conference

An RCMP officer physically removed a Rebel News journalist who was trying to attend one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's press conferences.

Rebel reporter Keean Bexte's arm was secured behind his back as the RCMP walked him away from Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Rideau Hall, where Trudeau lives and has been hosting all of his daily coronavirus briefings.

The video, published by Bexte, shows him being removed after refusing to provide his cell phone to an RCMP officer.

Bexte was there to ask Trudeau a question after he was not invited to do so on the briefings' teleconferences.

“I have been on the phone with Justin Trudeau for about two months now, calling pretty much every single day and I’m always getting the cold shoulder,” says Bexte in his report.

“So I decided that I would come here to Ottawa. I’m at the Princess Anne entrance. Every day I get an email from Justin Trudeau’s office saying that reporters can come here, there’s open media coverage.”

But despite making it onto the residence's grounds, Bexte was barred from joining other reporters at the actual press conference.

Footage of the incident shows an officer preventing Bexte from moving any further before demanding to see photos on Bexte's phone.

“Does it feel good censoring media in this country? This badge was good enough for the Hong Kong police force and it’s not good enough for you?” asks Bexte.

“I’m going to ask you to review your pictures right now. If you don’t show me, I’m going to ask you to escort you out,” the officer said.

When Bexte refused, the officer forced Bexte's arm behind his back and escorted him off the property.

“This is Ottawa, Canada, 2020 when Justin Trudeau is having his RCMP throw out a journalist for no reason because I wouldn’t show him my phone,” said Bexte as he was dragged out.

Critics have accused the prime minister of playing favorites with media outlets during his daily updates.

True North research shows CBC and its affiliates make up a large portion of the questions allowed by the prime minister.

CBC journalists take up around 21% of the questions asked during the briefings while independent outlets were allowed zero.

Rebel News is taking the Parliamentary Press Gallery to court for unfairly barring their journalists from being able to ask questions.

According to a May 25 affidavit reported by Blacklock's Reporter, Rebel News had claimed that the “government-influenced Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery governing access to official Ottawa media availabilities has outright banned Rebel News without notice, explanation or right of appeal.”

Rebel and True North are both suing the federal government for the Leaders' Debates Commission denying Bexte and True North's Andrew Lawton from accessing the government-run debates in last year's federal election.

A Federal Court injunction required the government accredit True North and Rebel.