Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Apologizes for Threatening Reporter Over Wild Horse Inquiry
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued an apology for threatening to punch a Colorado reporter who questioned him about the government's wild horse program during a campaign event. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Bureau of Land Management in managing wild horse populations.
Salazar contacted Dave Philipps, a reporter with The Gazette of Colorado Springs, to apologize and offer an interview. He also sent a letter of apology following the newspaper's publication of a story and audio recording of the comments made at an Election Day event in Fountain, Colorado.
In the audio, Philipps is heard requesting an on-camera interview with Salazar, who briefly addressed the wild horse management program overseen by his office. Salazar mentioned the Bureau of Land Management's efforts to tackle long-standing issues with wild horses on public lands.
After the interview, Salazar accused Philipps of setting him up and threatened, "If you do that to me again, I'll punch you out." Philipps had previously attempted to arrange an interview through Salazar's press secretary without success.
The Gazette initially withheld the audio, hoping for an interview with Salazar. However, the exchange was publicized by The Cloud Foundation, a Colorado Springs-based wild horse advocacy group, prompting the Gazette to publish the story.
The BLM faces challenges in managing growing horse herds, which can double naturally within five years if unchecked. Efforts include administering drugs to slow reproduction and rounding up horses for adoption, yet more horses remain in captivity than roam free.
Salazar acknowledged the complexity of the wild horse issue, stating, "To tell the truth, the wild horse issue has been the most difficult issue we have dealt with. We've had hundreds of meetings on it and there are still a lot of problems."
Philipps reported for ProPublica that Tom Davis, a Colorado horse slaughter proponent, purchased 70% of the wild horses sold by the BLM since 2009, promising they wouldn't be slaughtered. Davis claims to have honored these contracts.
Information from The Gazette
Originally Posted by Associated Press