Rep. Andy Harris on spat with student reporter: ‘I pushed back, liberal media got offended’

Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) is defending himself after video of him clashing with a student reporter during a press gaggle went viral earlier this week.

In an appearance on Fox 45 Baltimore Thursday, anchor Mikenzie Frost asked Harris about the moment and pressed him on if he regretted the exchange.

“It’s not very newsworthy that the liberal media badgers a conservative politician, what was newsworthy is that I actually pushed back against it,” Harris said. “She actually started by criticizing the way that press gaggle was being conducted. That’s not the role of a journalist.”

The video , which the Baltimore Banner posted to social platform X Wednesday, shows Harris asking Capital News Service reporter Cat Murphy to stop recording the press gaggle, claiming she needed permission to do so under Maryland’s two-party consent law before appearing to threaten her with legal action.

However, the law Harris cited does not apply to public situations with “no reasonable expectation of privacy.”

Another video angle , shared by the Baltimore Sun on X, shows Murphy telling Harris to “respect their questions just as much as mine,” though it is not clear in the video what prompted the comment. Harris responded by saying he would not answer her questions.

Harris appeared to reference this moment during his Thursday interview, telling Frost that the reporter had been “telling me how to conduct the press conference” — which he also said is not the “purpose” of a journalist in this setting.

In an appearance on CNN, Murphy told anchor Jake Tapper the incident has been “a lot” to take in.

“It has been a lot. But I was focused on doing my job and asking my questions that I wanted answers to, and I think I did that,” Murphy said.

In Harris’ Fox 45 interview, Frost pointed out that Harris threatened to bring in police and have Murphy prosecuted for recording him, prompting the GOP lawmaker to reiterate his argument that Murphy was violating the two-party consent law during the interaction.

Harris went on to repeatedly blame “the liberal media” for the incident and subsequent social media firestorm. The GOP lawmaker is the current chair and an original member of the House Freedom Caucus, which includes some of the most conservative members of Congress.

“The liberal media has been doing this for years. Nobody pushes back. I pushed back, liberal media got offended,” Harris said.

The gaggle in question occurred after Harris wrapped up a debate against his opponent, Democrat Dan Schwartz, in the race for Maryland’s 1st Congressional District. Nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ gives Harris, the incumbent, a 95 percent chance of victory in November.