Gina Raimondo makes a surprise appearance at RI State House to film '60 Minutes' interview

Katherine Gregg, Providence Journal
Updated ·2 min read
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PROVIDENCE − Gina Raimondo returned to the Rhode Island Capitol on Wednesday to face questions from "60 Minutes'" Leslie Stahl outside the ornate State Room where she once held court.

Reporters were cordoned off behind a barrier while the interview took place, with Rhode Island State Police and Raimondo's own security team keeping them out of earshot and camera shot.

Producer Richard Bonin told The Journal that CBS' "60 Minutes" was here to do a profile of the U.S. commerce secretary who rose from state treasurer to pandemic-era governor in Rhode Island to her current post as a high-profile member of President Biden's Cabinet.

Former Gov. Gina Raimondo with Leslie Stahl of CBS' "60 Minutes."
Former Gov. Gina Raimondo with Leslie Stahl of CBS' "60 Minutes."

The focus? Her portfolio as commerce secretary

The air date? Uncertain.

In a brief conversation with reporters, Stahl voiced surprise that the commerce secretary – who built her Rhode Island political brand as "Gina from Greenville" – is still commonly referred to as "Gina" and not by her title, as is the custom in Washington.

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Raimondo did not stop to chat.

But she was expected to reappear later Wednesday as the "exciting special guest" at a fundraiser that Rhode Island's current top-tier Democrats are hosting for Gabe Amo, the Democratic nominee for the open congressional seat that former U.S. Rep. David Cicilline resigned mid-term for a job in the private sector.

Gina Raimondo was at the Rhode Island State House to film an interview with Leslie Stahl of CBS's "60 Minutes."
Gina Raimondo was at the Rhode Island State House to film an interview with Leslie Stahl of CBS's "60 Minutes."

The host committee includes U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, 2nd District U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and the state's five general officers – including Gov. Dan McKee.

According to the governor's staff, McKee – who was lieutenant governor during Raimondo's tenure as governor – was not in the building while she was in the State House.

With reports from Patrick Anderson.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Commerce Secretary Raimondo returns to RI State House for TV interview