How in the world can a public figure deny someone the use of a photograph someone else owns?

Novak doesn't get into the contract betweeen Mungal and the Clinton Foundation. It is quite common at these events for the sponsor to hire a photographer simply to take the photo while the sponsor maintains some rights over the photograph.

I recently hired a photographer for a private benefit party and the contract--provided by the photographer, in this case--clearly gave my organization ownership of the images taken during the benefit. It wasn't even something we thought of, to be quite honest. The photographer told us it is a pretty standard contract.