Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) apologized on Friday following an incident where he attempted to use Capitol Police to shield himself from questioning. The interaction occurred on Thursday when a reporter from TMZ, Charlie Cotton, approached the senator to ask about the health of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

During the encounter, Ricketts sought assistance from Capitol Police to prevent the reporter from continuing his line of questioning. Following the event, Ricketts took to social media to address the situation, stating that he had "reacted poorly" to the reporter's approach. He further noted that he had reached out to Cotton to apologize directly for his behavior, and he expressed appreciation for the reporter's willingness to take his call.

The incident highlights the ongoing tension between lawmakers and members of the press regarding access and decorum within the Capitol complex. While Ricketts has taken responsibility for his actions, the event has drawn attention to the protocols surrounding the use of law enforcement to manage interactions with the media. No further official statements have been released by the Capitol Police regarding their involvement in the matter.