A top NH GOP staffer, Chris Maidment, seen above with Governor-Elect Kelly Ayotte on election night 2024, this week called for a "special jail for journalists" in a now-deleted social media post targeting New Hampshire reporters writing about staff hires for the incoming Ayotte administration. Ayotte's team has declined to comment or condemn the remarks. (X)
A top NH GOP staffer who some Republicans likened to a de facto state party executive director during the 2024 election cycle posted on social media Tuesday morning that there should be a “special jail for journalists” working in New Hampshire.
Chris Maidment, the conservative operative who made the post, deleted it shortly after, which was made in response to an article by InDepthNH detailing incoming staff hires by Governor-Elect Kelly Ayotte, noting that Ayotte did not disclose salaries for the new hires.
Maidment was seen at Ayotte’s victory party on election night, drink in hand, and was seen alongside her and her staff at various times throughout her 2024 campaign for governor.
Reached for comment multiple times, Ayotte and her team refused to condemn the remarks.
The assertion that New Hampshire journalists should be jailed echoes comments made by President-Elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly advocated for the jailing of American reporters and labeling them as the “enemy of the people” since early in his first term in office.
Ironically, Maidment previously worked as a reporter at the far-right New Hampshire political blog, NH Journal, and was himself arrested while covering a protest of COVID-19 safety measures.
RELATED: Kelly Ayotte quiet after Donald Trump suggests her one-time ally Liz Cheney should face firing squad
In 2023 Maidment attracted national news for being terminated as director of grassroots operations for the conservative super PAC Americans for Prosperity’s New Hampshire branch for refusing to go along with the group’s decision to support Nikki Haley in the primary.
Ayotte has been criticised for her cold relationship with the New Hampshire press corps, refusing to hold open press events throughout her 2024 campaign and frequently refusing to answer questions or give comments to reporters outside of friendly conservative press circles.
Given the opportunity, Ayotte also refused to distance herself from Trump’s attacks on American reporters.
After this reporter posted about Maidment’s calling for New Hampshire journalists to be sent to “special jail”, he responded clarifying why he deleted his earlier post.
“I deleted because I wasn’t specific enough. I meant special jail for InDepthNH and Granite Post Journalists.”
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for New Hampshirites and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Granite Post has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Granite State families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Nashua man sentenced 46 months for harassing NHPR journalists
A New Hampshire man was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in harassing and intimidating two New Hampshire Public Radio...
UNH researchers examine and rebury human remains from the 1800s in Brentwood
For two years, about 30 students and researchers from the University of New Hampshire studied human remains uncovered during a 1999 construction...
Daylight saving time ends this weekend. This is how to prepare for the potential health effects.
The good news: You will get a glorious extra hour of sleep. The bad: It'll be dark as a pocket by late afternoon for the next few months in the U.S....
What to know about this year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment
By ADRIANA MORGA AND CORA LEWIS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Tens of millions of older Americans will see an increase in benefits this January...
Extending deadline for Concord Casino deal in public’s best interest, Sanborn’s attorneys say
Former Republican lawmaker Andy Sanborn’s attorneys are pushing for an extension on the Sept. 30 deadline to sell his Concord Casino, citing that it...
Amidst decline of local news, The Berlin Reporter ends its 125 year run
After 125 years of being in operation, The Berlin Reporter has merged with the Coos County Democrat. The merger was effective Sept. 1, and The...
