Conan Harris, husband of Rep. Ayanna Pressley, knocked a reporter's phone from his hand Monday at Chelsea City Hall after the reporter tried to ask Pressley about alleged childcare fraud in Minnesota. Harris, who previously served 10 years in prison on a drug-trafficking conviction, moved away into a nearby room as the camera was refocused. The incident coincided with an announcement that the federal government would freeze about $10 billion in childcare funds to five states amid reported fraud concerns; the Office of Management and Budget reportedly cited fraud and questions about funds going to undocumented immigrants.
Pressley Confrontation at Chelsea City Hall: Husband Snatches Reporter’s Phone During Question on Minnesota Childcare Fraud
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., is seen juxtaposed next to an image of her husband Conan Harris.
Conan Harris, the husband of U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), knocked a reporter's phone from his hand Monday inside Chelsea City Hall after the reporter attempted to question the congresswoman about alleged childcare fraud in Minnesota.
What happened
The exchange began as a reporter approached Pressley with his phone recording and asked a truncated question as he neared the congresswoman. At that moment, Harris struck the device, sending it to the floor. The reporter retrieved the phone and refocused the camera; Harris then moved into a nearby room off the hallway.
Congresswoman Pressley, do you support —
Background on Harris
Harris previously served 10 years in prison on a felony drug-trafficking conviction before his marriage to Rep. Pressley. Pressley has said she draws on his experience reentering society when advocating for people who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and her husband Conan Harris.
News Context
The confrontation occurred the same day the Trump administration announced it would freeze roughly $10 billion in federal childcare funds to five Democratic-led states amid reports of social-services fraud. Media reports say the affected states are California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. An official at the Office of Management and Budget reportedly told Axios the freeze was prompted by concerns about fraud and questions regarding funds provided to undocumented immigrants.
Responses
Pressley did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Some social-media posts and commentary circulated broader claims about nationwide fraud levels; those claims were not independently verified in the reporting and are not attributed here.
This article presents the reported sequence of events and the contemporaneous federal action; it avoids repeating unverified or misattributed claims contained in some original accounts.
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