Er, we made a mistake... Vice President's aide apologises to journalist locked in a closet for hours during fundraiser

Spokeswoman Elizabeth Alexander said the decision to hold local reporter Scott Powers there was a 'mistake'.

And she claimed an inexperienced staffer had put Powers in the closet instead of a 'hotel room' as was their normal practice.

As the unaware $500-a-head invitees dined on caprese crostini with oven-dried mozzarella and basil, rosemary flatbread with grapes honey and gorgonzola cheese, grilled chicken Caesar and garden vegetable wraps, last week, the veteran reporter was locked away.

 

1st Amendment: Freedom of the press was stretched when VP Joe Biden's staff refused to let reporter Scott Powers, right, talk with guests at a fundraiser with Sen Bill Nelson

Imprisoned? Powers snapped this image of the closet in which he was held and posted it online

The Orlando Sentinel reporter was ushered into the closet inside wealthy property developer Alan Ginsburg’s Winter Park mansion, after being told that Joe Biden and Senator Bill Nelson had not yet arrived.

They were due to speak to the audience to raise money for the 2012 elections.