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Courtesy Republican National Committee OpenSecrets denied credential to Republican National Convention

OpenSecrets.org, the nonprofit that tracks federal campaign contributions and lobbying by lobbying firms, individual lobbyists, industry, federal agency, and bills, has been denied credentials to attend the Republican National Convention and is airing its grievances publicly.

Viveca Novak, editor of OpenSecrets' money-in-politics blog, said in an interview the site has received credentials for every Republican convention since at least 1996. Novak said her organization was surprised to be denied the two credentials ot requested and was told that the denial was because of space constraints. OpenSecrets were also told there was no process for appeal.

“They gave no other reason other than that space is very tight,” Novak said.

Novak said the group had already secured housing and tickets to travel to Cleveland and was now trying to offload them or else eat the cost. It has been approved for credentials to the Democratic National Convention, pending sign-off from the Secret Service.

“I don’t know if it’s because of the kind of work we do, I have no idea. But we are nonpartisan. We certainly pick on Democrats as much as Republicans,” Novak said.

FactCheck.org, which was scheduled to share housing with the members of OpenSecrets.org, was also initially denied the one credential it had requested.

Eugene Kiely, director of FactCheck.org, said it appealed the rejection and were successful, though Kiely said he’s not sure what changed. At one point, Kiely said he had been advised to try and obtain credentials through their partnership with USAToday, since organizations like FactCheck.org and OpenSecrets.org are considered “special press.” Kiely also said he had notified the RNC that a Washington Post media reporter had contacted him about FactCheck.org's credentials.

Spokespeople for the Republican National Convention did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on OpenSecrets’ credentials or how many applications they received for media credentials.

UPDATE 3:05p.m.:

Republican National Committee communications director Sean Spicer tweeted in response to OpenSecrets.org on Friday afternoon that it “Is no secret that credentials for media for both conventions are handled by House/Senate Press Galleries.”

But Novak told POLITICO that it was RNC’s head of special press, Anastasia Harden, and Republican National Convention communications director Kristen Kukowski who handled their credentials because they are deemed “special press” and were not handled by the congressional press galleries.

“It was the convention committee we had to go through, people on the convention committee, because we’re considered ‘special press’ because we’re a nonprofit,” Novak said.