Newt Gingrich Aide Cuts Off Student Reporter After Question About Roger Ailes

Newt Gingrich's staff cut short an interview with a student reporter Saturday after the college journalist asked a question about Roger Ailes.

Memet Walker, a reporter for UNC's The Daily Tar Heel, had arranged a private interview with Gingrich at a Greensboro Tea Party rally - with no preconditions or banned topics given, Walker wrote.

But Walker says after he started to ask Gingrich his first question, on harsh comments made by Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, one of the candidate's aides physically pushed him away and ended the interview:

But before I even had a chance on Saturday to relay Ailes’ comments, his aide pressed his hands against me, and several Secret Service agents stopped me in my tracks.

“You’re not asking that. You’re done,” his aide said.

Not “Next question.” Just, “You’re done.”

I was surprised that they weren’t ready for the question. I was surprised that they were so surprised I might ask it.

To be honest, I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the speaker in a tough back-and-forth. After all, in the struggle between politicians and members of the media, he’s a pro; I’m an amateur.

Gingrich said last Wednesday that Fox News had been biased against him in its coverage. Ailes hit back, saying Gingrich was "trying to get a job at CNN because he knows he isn't going to get to come back to Fox News."