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[
{
"title": "Broadcast reporter attacked, camera damaged while reporting in Florida",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-reporter-attacked-camera-damaged-while-reporting-southwest-florida/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-05T21:38:11.105135Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-27T21:27:38.798376Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-10-27T21:27:38.650421Z",
"date": "2019-11-28",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "North Fort Myers",
"longitude": -81.88009,
"latitude": 26.66729,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"vr0ff\">Delia D’Ambra, a broadcast reporter for NBC2 News in Southwest Florida, was assaulted and her camera damaged while working on a story alone in North Fort Myers on Nov. 28, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"5wk33\">D’Ambra was wrapping up her shoot when a man wearing work gloves approached her, <a href=\"https://www.nbc-2.com/story/41384829/nbc2-reporter-attacked-on-the-job-in-north-fort-myers\">NBC2 reported</a>. She hit the record button on her camera right as the man lunged for her.</p><p data-block-key=\"w399v\">“He comes and grabs everything, shakes me and pushes me back,” D’Ambra told NBC2. “And as we’re going down, he holds onto the viewfinder and pulls that down and breaks it.”</p><p data-block-key=\"ekf64\">In the video posted by NBC2, D’Ambra can be heard screaming multiple times, “Leave me alone!” As the man walks away from her D’Ambra drags herself and the camera across the pavement, warning the man that she is calling the police.</p><p data-block-key=\"vj9ah\">“I knew immediately that I was alone, I needed to get away from this person,” D’Ambra said. “He went back to his car. I had no idea whether he was going to get a weapon, take the car and come get me. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”</p><p data-block-key=\"ws3hq\">When deputies arrived at the scene, they arrested 79-year-old Hollis Creach.</p><p data-block-key=\"9kghn\">D’Ambra <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DeliaDAmbraTV/status/1200251811325775872\">tweeted</a> later that day that the experience was frightening and exhausting, but that she was feeling better. “God spared me great harm today & I’m grateful. I also forgive the man who attacked me & know God loves him too,” D’Ambra wrote.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today was a frightening & exhaustive day. Thankful for the loving messages & support from my family, husband ,coworkers & <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NBC2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NBC2</a> viewers. I’m happy to be feeling better. God spared me great harm today & I’m grateful. I also forgive the man who attacked me & know God loves him too.</p>— DeliaDAmbraTV (@DeliaDAmbraTV) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DeliaDAmbraTV/status/1200251811325775872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 29, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"qe0zd\">The incident will affect how she approaches reporting in the future, D’Ambra told NBC2.</p><p data-block-key=\"mwbm7\">“I will be extremely cautious with individuals approaching me, yelling at me, even more so now,” D’Ambra said.</p><p data-block-key=\"dn79a\">D’Ambra did not respond to request for comment by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"ep1t6\">Creach has been charged with battery, damaging property and criminal mischief, and made his first appearance in court on Nov. 29, according to NBC2.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/DAmbra2.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"i3d3y\">A Florida man attacked broadcast reporter Delia D’Ambra, pushing her to the ground and damaging the camera.</p>",
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"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
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"case_number": null,
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"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": "private individual",
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
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"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "Florida",
"abbreviation": "FL"
},
"updates": [
"(2021-10-26 11:07:00+00:00) Charges dropped against man who attacked Florida NBC2 reporter"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Delia D’Ambra (WBBH-TV)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Spokesman-Review subpoenaed in defamation lawsuit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/spokesman-review-subpoenaed-in-defamation-lawsuit/",
"first_published_at": "2023-01-26T20:09:14.837152Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-02-13T15:50:24.076650Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-02-13T15:50:23.985076Z",
"date": "2019-11-25",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Spokane",
"longitude": -117.42908,
"latitude": 47.65966,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"r3vcd\">A Washington state Court of Appeals ruled on Jan. 10, 2023, that the <a href=\"https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jan/11/the-spokesman-review-protected-from-most-of-subpoe/\">state’s shield law protected The Spokesman-Review</a> and one of its editors from complying with subpoenas seeking testimony and documents as part of a defamation lawsuit. However, the 3-member panel upheld the lower court’s ruling that some information sought from the outlet and Executive Editor Rob Curley was not protected by reporter’s privilege.</p><p data-block-key=\"ql\">The decision stemmed from a 2019 lawsuit filed by a Spokane sheriff’s deputy who was found to be <a href=\"https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/dec/23/spokane-county-jury-awards-195-million-to-former-s/\">wrongfully terminated</a> after an internal investigation accused him of using a racial slur and harassment while on duty. The newspaper was <a href=\"https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/384446_pub.pdf\">first subpoenaed</a> on Nov. 25, 2019 for testimony and documents connected to an arrangement between the outlet and the Spokane sheriff’s office to delay coverage of the internal investigation until it was completed. In 2021, the sheriff testified in a deposition about the agreement, naming Executive Editor Curley. The Tracker documented <a href=\"/all-incidents/spokesman-review-editor-subpoenaed-for-information-about-agreement-with-spokane-sheriff/\">Curley’s May 2021 subpoena here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"a1qu2\">In June 2021, The Spokesman-Review filed a motion to quash the subpoenas and for a protective order to prevent any violation of the state’s shield law and the newspaper’s First Amendment rights. The trial court partially granted the protective order in September, limiting who would need to respond to the subpoenas while allowing the request for documents and deposition of Curley. The newspaper filed for an emergency stay, or suspension, of the motion, and the Appeals Court agreed to the review in November.</p><p data-block-key=\"3fe8b\">In their 2023 decision to <a href=\"https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/384446_pub.pdf\">uphold the lower court’s</a> partial granting and partial denial of the subpoenas, the three appellate judges wrote that state law protected the outlet and Curley from revealing privileged conversations and documents around any agreements. The court agreed, however, that the dates and times of any agreements made between Curley and the sheriff’s office were not protected by shield law. The ruling did not specify a date for providing information about the agreements.</p><p data-block-key=\"1qjob\">Spokesman-Review Attorney Casey Bruner told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker in an emailed statement that the newspaper was satisfied with the court’s ruling.</p><p data-block-key=\"675f0\">Bruner wrote that the decision protected and clarified the state shield law. “We believe the decision is beneficial not just to the Spokesman-Review but to all reporters in the state and is a step in the right direction for protecting the freedom of the press.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Screen_Shot_2023-01-26_at_3.01.17.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"86axi\">A portion of the subpoena issued to The Spokesman-Review on Nov. 25, 2019, seeking testimony and documents as part of a defamation lawsuit in Spokane, Washington.</p>",
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"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product",
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": "State",
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Washington",
"abbreviation": "WA"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [
"The Spokesman-Review"
],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [],
"subpoena_statuses": [
"quashed",
"upheld"
],
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Congressman Nunes alleges CNN, Daily Beast ‘committed crimes’ in reporting, says will sue",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/congressman-nunes-alleges-cnn-daily-beast-committed-crimes-in-reporting-says-will-sue/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-27T17:17:20.024795Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-10-26T16:57:54.677113Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-10-26T16:57:54.605981Z",
"date": "2019-11-24",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Washington",
"longitude": -77.03637,
"latitude": 38.89511,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"awp6g\">California Congressman Devin Nunes said that he plans to sue CNN and The Daily Beast for defamation during an interview on Fox News on Nov. 24, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"r9qu0\">Host <a href=\"http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/11/24/nunes_accuses_cnn_of_criminal_activity_for_reporting_he_met_with_ukrainian_prosecutor.html?jwsource=cl\">Maria Bartiromo asked</a> the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee whether he had met with former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Victor Shokin in Austria in 2018, as had been reported by CNN and Daily Beast over the weekend.</p><p data-block-key=\"nfurt\">Nunes did not answer the question, and instead dismissed the articles as “fake news” and alleged that it is “very likely” that the outlets committed crimes while reporting the story. He also said he intends to take the outlets to federal court after Thanksgiving, arguing that it’s the only way to hold the "corrupt" media accountable.</p><p data-block-key=\"wbm9j\">"So we hope that CNN and Daily Beast will cooperate with the court," Nunes said. "They should comply with the subpoenas once we file this and go through different depositions. It should be fun."</p><p data-block-key=\"f1wwq\">A spokesperson from Daily Beast <a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/house/471838-nunes-threatens-to-take-cnn-daily-beast-to-court\">told The Hill</a> that they “stand by our reporting and are happy to defend it.” The Hill said CNN declined to comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"vshp9\">The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker will document any resulting subpoenas under our <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/subpoena/\">Subpoena/Legal Order category</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"ct4jw\">Nunes has pursued libel suits against the media before. In April, he targeted The McClatchy Company, which owns The Fresno Bee, in <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-congressman-devin-nunes-files-defamation-suit-against-newspaper-its-coverage/\">a $150 million defamation lawsuit</a>, arguing that its reporting on the congressman constituted “character assassination.” According to <a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/house/464229-nunes-files-75m-lawsuit-over-esquire-story-about-secret-iowa-dairy\">The Hill</a>, Nunes also has an ongoing $75 million lawsuit against journalist Ryan Lizza and Hearst Magazines filed in October.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/RTX79X5G.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"gqpx8\">Ranking House Intelligence Committee Member Devin Nunes (R-CA) participates in an impeachment inquiry on Nov. 21. A few days later on Fox News, Nunes outlined his plans to sue two more media organizations for their reporting.</p>",
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"assailant": null,
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"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
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"state": {
"name": "District of Columbia",
"abbreviation": "DC"
},
"updates": [
"(2019-12-03 14:58:00+00:00) After calling reporting criminal, Congressman Nunes sues CNN for $435 million",
"(2022-04-14 12:56:00+00:00) Federal appeals court rejects Nunes lawsuit against CNN"
],
"case_statuses": [],
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"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [
"CNN",
"The Daily Beast"
],
"tags": [],
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"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Other Incident"
],
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"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Photographer knocked to ground, camera damaged at football game",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photographer-knocked-ground-camera-damaged-football-game/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-09T17:27:02.840840Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-27T21:28:13.276615Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-10-27T21:28:13.162694Z",
"date": "2019-11-23",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Honolulu",
"longitude": -157.85833,
"latitude": 21.30694,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"4bqq5\">A photographer for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser says that he was assaulted during a University of Hawaii football game on Nov. 23, 2019, resulting in injuries and damage to his camera.</p><p data-block-key=\"r85kz\">USA Today <a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2019/11/29/hawaii-football-nick-rolovich-honolulu-star/4333390002/\">reported</a> that photographer Jamm Aquino was standing on the sidelines when Hawaii coaches and players rushed the field after the opposing team missed a field goal, sealing the university’s victory. Aquino followed the team onto the field to photograph the celebration.</p><p data-block-key=\"p9nhb\"><a href=\"https://www.staradvertiser.com/2019/11/29/sports/assault-at-uh-game-alleged-by-star-advertiser-photographer/?HSA=f34e49c98d22848d8d81ab433fa0db4c13ed3f98\">According to the Star-Advertiser</a>, seconds remained on the game clock and therefore the game was not officially over. It was while the team rushed back off the field to avoid a penalty that Aquino says Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich charged at him while swearing and “made contact” with him. The outlet also reported that an Associated Press photographer next to Aquino was shoved.</p><p data-block-key=\"hhhup\">Aquino told the Star-Advertiser that an unnamed university employee then shoved him to the ground, leaving him with a concussion and various other injuries and damaging his camera lens.</p><p data-block-key=\"wms43\">As Rolovich made his way off the field at the end of the game, he saw Aquino, pointed in his direction and again began swearing at him.</p><p data-block-key=\"ewg2h\">Star-Advertiser editor Frank Bridgewater said in the article, “Our photographers are representing our readers and deserve to be treated as professionals.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6cbe5\">“Swearing at and, worse, physically assaulting them, will not be tolerated,” Bridgewater said. “We will take whatever steps are needed to protect our photographers’ rights and to ensure that those who abuse them are called out.”</p><p data-block-key=\"78v2p\">The university said in a statement that Aquino violated sideline protocol and that Rolovich came into contact with Aquino while attempting to clear the field.</p><p data-block-key=\"lwa3v\">“Coach Rolovich regrets the situation occurred. He contacted the photographer late Saturday night and apologized,” the university said.</p><p data-block-key=\"6bx05\">Aquino did not respond to request for comment by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Aquino2_4Ppaezt.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"az0m6\">University of Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich charges the camera of Honolulu Star-Advertiser photographer Jamm Aquino during a football game. Aquino says Rolovich and another university employee assaulted him, causing injuries and equipment damage.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"actor": "public figure",
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"assailant": "public figure",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
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{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera lens"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "Hawaii",
"abbreviation": "HI"
},
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"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
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"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Jamm Aquino (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Arkansas broadcast journalist found in contempt of court, released on time served",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/arkansas-broadcast-journalist-found-contempt-court-released-time-served/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-26T16:07:12.722088Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-11-08T21:37:24.055157Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-11-08T21:37:23.982887Z",
"date": "2019-11-19",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Bentonville",
"longitude": -94.20882,
"latitude": 36.37285,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"n2un9\">Nkiruka Azuka Omeronye, a reporter for KNWA/FOX24 News in northwest Arkansas, was found in contempt of court and sentenced to three days in jail on Nov. 19, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"6fjy9\">Omeronye, who broadcasts as Nkiruka Azuka, admitted in court to using her cellphone to record the Oct. 7 proceedings in a capital murder case. She said, however, that she was not aware that Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren had filed an order in June prohibiting any recording in his courtroom. There is also a state Supreme Court rule prohibiting recording without the judge’s permission.</p><p data-block-key=\"7wuwj\"><a href=\"https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/19/arkansas-tv-reporter-sentenced-3-days-jail-recordi/\">According to Arkansas Online</a>, Omeronye said during her hearing that she understood that it was a sensitive case and that she had recorded to proceedings only to ensure the accuracy of her notes, not with the intention of broadcasting it.</p><p data-block-key=\"8m7l8\">“I did not mean to disrespect you or your courtroom,” Omeronye said. She testified that she had previously worked at stations in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Phoenix, Arizona, where reporters were permitted to record in courtrooms, and that she did not see signs in the lobby or on the courtroom door warning against recording the proceedings.</p><p data-block-key=\"znn2n\">Karren appeared to accept Omeronye’s apology.</p><p data-block-key=\"qxosn\">“I think you have shown the proper remorse,” Karren said. “I don’t think you were thumbing your nose at the court.” He also stated that he believes Omeronye’s employers let her down by not ensuring she was aware of the court’s rules.</p><p data-block-key=\"cu5g4\">Karren found that Omeronye deliberately recorded the proceedings and ruled her in contempt of the court. He ordered her to serve 10 days in the Benton County jail, but suspended seven of the days. Karren also placed her on six months probation and barred her from his courtroom.</p><p data-block-key=\"t0fhl\">Omeronye was scheduled to begin serving her sentence on Nov. 20, and was going to be permitted to leave the jail in order to go to work.</p><p data-block-key=\"nnmes\">After Omeronye’s sentencing, KNWA/FOX24 General Manager Lisa Kelsey <a href=\"https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/knwa/knwa-fox24-responds-to-reporter-held-in-contempt/\">said in a statement</a> that the broadcaster regrets the incident.</p><p data-block-key=\"ns1mh\">“Nkiruka has offered a sincere apology to the judge, to her colleagues, and to the station. As we do with all our journalists, we have counseled her on obeying all courtroom rules, as well as Arkansas Judicial Guidelines,” Kelsey said.</p><p data-block-key=\"qjwvz\">Omeronye’s sentence drew criticism from media outlets and journalism organizations who called the jail time “excessive.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NABJ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NABJ</a> is disheartened to learn that reporter <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NkirukaAzuka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NkirukaAzuka</a><a href=\"https://twitter.com/KNWAnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KNWANews</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Fox24News?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Fox24News</a> has received jail time. We believe it's an excessive sentence. She stated she was unaware of a court's rule that did not permit her to record and apologized. Read more: <a href=\"https://t.co/PFdbAqPqkY\">https://t.co/PFdbAqPqkY</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/30eUhoB1mU\">pic.twitter.com/30eUhoB1mU</a></p>— NABJ Headquarters (@NABJ) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NABJ/status/1197255895450828801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 20, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"hkre9\">Arkansas Society of Professional Journalists chapter President Sarah DeClerk <a href=\"https://arkansasspj.org/2019/11/19/arkansas-spj-condemns-tv-reporters-3-day-jail-sentence-for-recording-in-courtroom/\">said in a statement</a>, “We consider the judge’s actions to be excessive and disrespectful of the public service provided by journalists to all citizens interested in the judicial process.”</p><p data-block-key=\"pg4qs\">Arkansas Online <a href=\"https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/nov/22/after-few-hours-in-jail-journalist-orde/\">reported</a> that judge Karren called the jail on Nov. 20 and reduced Omeronye’s sentence to time served. She was released from custody at 5 p.m., a few hours after beginning her sentence.</p><p data-block-key=\"sxe81\">Omeronye was ordered to pay $250 in court costs, and told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, “All I can really say is that it’s done and that I’m moving on.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"arresting_authority": "Benton County Circuit Court",
"arrest_status": "arrested and released",
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"case_number": null,
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"state": {
"name": "Arkansas",
"abbreviation": "AR"
},
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{
"title": "NC judge grants then dissolves restraining order barring TV station from airing investigative report",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nc-judge-grants-then-dissolves-restraining-order-barring-tv-station-airing-investigative-report/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-20T17:53:49.813370Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-27T20:59:26.825382Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-27T20:59:26.741809Z",
"date": "2019-11-13",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Charlotte",
"longitude": -80.84313,
"latitude": 35.22709,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"9megg\">A North Carolina judge granted a temporary restraining order on Nov. 13, 2019, barring David Hodges, a reporter at WBTV, from airing his investigation into a Charlotte-based towing company.</p><p data-block-key=\"3vwt3\">The order was lifted at a hearing the following day, and Hodges’ <a href=\"https://www.wbtv.com/2019/11/15/charlotte-company-tows-sells-soldiers-car-while-she-was-deployed/\">story</a> — about an Army National Guard soldier whose car was towed and sold while she was deployed — aired as planned that evening.</p><p data-block-key=\"jn7ey\">In the motion for the temporary restraining order filed with the court, the lawyer for the towing company, SL Recovery LLC, argued that Hodges’ story was false. “Hodges has not produced any evidence to substantiate his claims that Plaintiff has engaged in predatory towing practices, and thus far, Defendant Gray Television, Inc., has refused to pull the story which will air on November 14 if temporary and/or permanent injunctive relief is not granted to Plaintiff,” attorney Cedric Rainey wrote in his <a href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PJ4NFqsKDfM8OuxjcgNGXt9RHmxYwgK8/view\">motion</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"adenu\">Previews of the story had already ran on WBTV, and as a result of those previews, Rainey’s motion alleges, SL Recovery had received a death threat. “The person making the threats specifically stated he would cause harm to Plaintiff if the targeting of veterans continued,” Rainey wrote.</p><p data-block-key=\"j1s0a\">Mecklenburg County Judge Lisa Bell granted the temporary restraining order on the evening of Nov. 13, a day before the story was slated to run.</p><p data-block-key=\"xfqsx\">The next day, Jonathan Buchan, the lawyer representing WBTV and Hodges, filed a <a href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r0chvhp02taasJCpAqFuoa7OrhVcyegE/view\">motion</a> to dissolve the temporary restraining order, arguing that it amounted to “an impermissible prior restraint on speech which violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 14 of the Constitution of North Carolina.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3es87\">Buchan continued, “If this form of prior restraint were permissible under the First Amendment, then every subject of a planned news story could prohibit its publication for indefinite periods and litigate the truth or falsity of the unpublished article prior to its publication. It would essentially require, in Alice and Wonderland fashion, a ‘libel trial’ prior to the publication of an article. Such a process would eviscerate the First Amendment’s prohibition of prior restraints on publication.”</p><p data-block-key=\"g0h9u\">Buchan made these arguments at a hearing before Judge Bell on the afternoon of Nov. 14. “You don’t keep the news media in this country from publishing truthful—or what they believe to be truthful—information in this country,” Buchan told the court, <a href=\"https://www.wbtv.com/2019/11/14/judge-issues-lifts-restraining-order-preventing-wbtv-investigation-airing/\">according</a> to WBTV.</p><p data-block-key=\"fwzzz\">Rainey, the attorney for SL Recovery, told the judge that this was not a case of prior restraint. “There hasn’t been a prior restraint at any level,” he said in court. If the restraining order were lifted, Rainey continued, “The court would be tacitly permitting them to make ongoing libelous statements.”</p><p data-block-key=\"byix8\">Buchan countered at the hearing that the law affords injured parties the opportunity to file a lawsuit for defamation, should that occur, but restraining speech by blocking publication would set a dangerous precedent. “That’s not how the First Amendment was designed to work or has ever worked,” Buchan said. “When he says this is not a prior restraint, this is the definition of a prior restraint.”</p><p data-block-key=\"nh1t4\">Bell granted Buchan’s motion to dissolve the restraining order. “I conclude that the court was in error in granting a temporary restraining order,” Bell said as she announced her ruling.</p><p data-block-key=\"0qctn\">“At the time she signed the restraining order, Bell said, she thought the potential significant harm to SL Recovery outweighed the potential harm to WBTV by having to hold its story,” WBTV reported.</p><p data-block-key=\"9mtxi\">“At that point alone, I stand corrected,” Bell said.</p><p data-block-key=\"zejlx\">In a statement emailed to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, Hodges said the experience was a shocking one. “It paralyzed me, but only for a minute before the news team at WBTV went to work defending the first amendment to make sure our story would air on-time,” he wrote. “Time and money are in short supply for any newsroom and are better spent reporting for our community than fighting legal battles already decided by the Supreme Court.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Screen_Shot_2019-11-20_at_12.45.2.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"zp5ql\">A portion of the motion to disolve the temporary restraining order placed on WBTV’s report</p>",
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"status_of_prior_restraint": "struck down",
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"state": {
"name": "North Carolina",
"abbreviation": "NC"
},
"updates": [],
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"Prior Restraint"
],
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"David Hodges (WBTV)"
],
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{
"title": "NYC building owner assaults reporter, breaks station camera equipment",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nyc-building-owner-assaults-reporter-breaks-station-camera-equipment/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-05T16:56:29.806903Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-11T20:43:34.635710Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-11T20:43:34.418951Z",
"date": "2019-11-12",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"mh00u\">Michael Herzenberg, a reporter for Spectrum News NY1, was assaulted and a NY1 camera damaged in an altercation with a New York City landlord on Nov. 12, 2019, after Herzenberg attempted to interview him concerning complaints from his tenants.</p><p data-block-key=\"gt3vp\">Herzenberg was investigating allegations that there had been no heat or gas in two buildings owned by Michael Rose since May, NY1 <a href=\"https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/11/13/upper-west-side-broadside-tenants-without-gas-and-heat\">reported in its write-up of the altercation</a>. Herzenberg entered a business owned by Rose alongside Daniel Bernstein, the founder of a tenants association for the buildings.</p><p data-block-key=\"351cy\">After answering a few questions, Rose became hostile. In a <a href=\"https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/11/13/upper-west-side-broadside-tenants-without-gas-and-heat\">video of the incident</a> captured by NY1, Rose answers a question then tries to grab the NY1 microphone out of Herzenberg’s hand and says, “Alright, that’s enough.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Landlord/owner # didn’t like me <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NY1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NY1</a> asking him why his tenants have <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/noheat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#noheat</a> He blames <a href=\"https://twitter.com/ConEdison?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@conedison</a> saying he tries to get the 2 buildings fixed everyday, but <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NYCCouncil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@nyccouncil</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MarkLevineNYC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@marklevinenyc</a> says utility told him it’s the owner’s fault. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NYPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@nypd</a> charged owner Mike Rose w/Criminal Mischief <a href=\"https://t.co/xGDz6FAoiS\">pic.twitter.com/xGDz6FAoiS</a></p>— Michael Herzenberg (@MHerzenberg) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MHerzenberg/status/1194542944159698945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 13, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"5uysw\">Someone can be heard asking Rose what he is doing as he pushes Herzenberg multiple times and appears to attempt to pull away the NY1 camera. In its <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1805462966265267\">Facebook post</a>, NY1 said the camera was broken in the altercation.</p><p data-block-key=\"8fsq8\">“I said get the fuck out of here,” Rose says. Rose appears to drag Herzenberg out of the store by his jacket. Once outside, Rose can be seen punching Bernstein in the head.</p><p data-block-key=\"ub5ha\">NYPD Spokesperson Sgt. Jessica McRorie told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that Bernstein sustained injuries but refused medical attention. It is unclear whether Herzenberg, who declined to comment, was injured in the scuffle. McRorie confirmed that Rose “broke a part of the [NY1] camera by smashing it with his hand.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bbxf4\">Rose was arrested and held overnight. McRorie told the Tracker that Rose has been charged with criminal mischief. West Side Rag <a href=\"https://www.westsiderag.com/2019/11/14/uws-landlord-arrested-on-assault-charges-after-scuffle-with-reporter-and-tenant\">reported</a> that Rose’s next court date is Dec. 5.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Herzenberg.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"o2y7h\">When an interview with a landlord became physical, a Spectrum News NY1 reporter was assaulted and the station camera was damaged.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
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"case_number": null,
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"actor": "private individual",
"border_point": null,
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"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
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{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
"updates": [
"(2023-11-07 00:00:00+00:00) Case sealed against NYC landlord who pushed NY1 reporter, broke station’s camera"
],
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"categories": [
"Assault",
"Equipment Damage"
],
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"Michael Herzenberg (Spectrum News NY1)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Court grants motion to compel former editor to reveal confidential source",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/court-grants-motion-to-compel-former-editor-to-reveal-confidential-source/",
"first_published_at": "2021-05-06T20:13:48.123654Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-08-14T13:45:58.747191Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-08-14T13:45:58.580031Z",
"date": "2019-11-05",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"2r81g\">On Nov. 5, 2019, as part a <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/us/charlottesville-civil-rights-trial.html\">lawsuit</a> against the organizers of Unite the Right rally held in Charlottesville, Virginia, in Aug. 2017, Milo Yiannopoulos, a former editor at Breitbart News, was subpoenaed for all documents and communication related to the rally and one of its organizers, Richard Spencer.</p><p data-block-key=\"7z82r\">Yiannopoulos, who, in Feb. 2017, had <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/milo-yiannopoulos-resigns-from-breitbart-news/2017/02/21/0217c128-f7cc-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html\">resigned</a> from his post at the conservite news site once described by its chairman as a <a href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/08/stephen-bannon-donald-trump-alt-right-breitbart-news/\">“platform for the alt-right,”</a> failed to comply with the subpoena, and on Dec. 18, the parties involved in the suit agreed to restrict its scope, now requesting only audio and visual recordings concerning the rally, as well as any communications between Yiannopoulos and the defendants.</p><p data-block-key=\"7xoid\">Yiannopoulos again failed to comply, ultimately stating that he had “nothing to produce relevant to the planning of [the rally].”</p><p data-block-key=\"h3qfc\">On April 6, 2020, however, Yiannopoulos published a <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvCJuwcE074\">video</a> on his YouTube channel that showed Spencer chanting, “Sieg Heil,” and performing a Nazi salute among a crowd of people, and two months later, he claimed on the <a href=\"https://t.me/s/MiloOfficial\">social media website Telegram</a> that “[a] lot more Richard Spencer drops still to come from me.” This prompted the plaintiffs in the case to <a href=\"https://files.integrityfirstforamerica.org/14228/1593184023-file0-0959218421868506.pdf\">file a motion</a>, on June 25, to compel his compliance with the subpoena.</p><p data-block-key=\"nkt8s\">In a court hearing on July 29, Yiannopoulos <a href=\"https://www.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.539295/gov.uscourts.nysd.539295.24.0.pdf\">testified</a> that the recordings relating to Spencer and the rally were not in his possession and that he had been “mistaken” in his belief that he possessed them. “I have consulted the source of these recordings, who reminded me that they were played to me, but I did not retain copies of them,” Yiannopoulos told the court in his objection to the subpoena. He then invoked the reporter’s privilege to protect the source’s identity.</p><p data-block-key=\"hh35b\">The plaintiffs argued that Yiannopoulos could not invoke such privilege, stating that he’d been “cultivating his source in order to pursue a personal feud with Richard Spencer, and was thus not acting in the role of an independent journalist.”</p><p data-block-key=\"flp6z\">On Oct. 14, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York <a href=\"https://casetext.com/case/sines-v-yiannopoulos\">held</a> that Yiannopoulos had been working for Breitbart at the time he contacted the source and was thus protected by the reporter’s privilege.</p><p data-block-key=\"ml219\">It noted: “Respondent’s style of disseminating information may be confrontational and biased, but it is not wholly without journalistic content, and protecting even Respondent’s muckraking style protects the ‘public interest in the maintenance of a vigorous, aggressive and independent press capable of participating in robust, unfettered debate over controversial matters.”</p><p data-block-key=\"eny6d\">The court order stated that the plaintiffs had also failed to prove that the requested information was not available through alternative sources and rejected their claim that Yiannopoulos had not acted as an independent journalist. The court denied the motion to compel “with leave to renew upon a more thorough demonstration that Movants have exhausted potential alternative sources.”</p><p data-block-key=\"lk47r\">When reached for comment, Yiannopoulos told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker: “Journalists are, to a man, weaselly, hypocritical, vindictive, disreputable and disgusting people, but we survive for one reason: We don’t reveal our sources.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3spg7\">On Nov. 5, 2020, the plaintiffs submitted a renewed motion to compel. After Yiannapolous did not submit an opposition to it, the court <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.539295/gov.uscourts.nysd.539295.29.0.pdf\">admitted the renewed motion</a> on Dec. 7, ordering him to provide the information within two weeks.</p><p data-block-key=\"5xu9f\">The court subsequently granted the renewed motion to compel, ordering Yiannopoulos to reveal the two sources and noting that the movants had now also successfully shown that the confidential information sought was not obtainable from other available sources and had therefore overcome qualified privilege.</p><p data-block-key=\"1vzlt\">A law clerk at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York told the Tracker that the movants in the case had not approached the court since that order to compel, implying that the respondent, Yiannopoulos, had complied.</p><p data-block-key=\"a71t5\">Yiannopoulos did not respond to the Tracker’s follow-up request for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"4ssj3\"><i>Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include the date of the final court order and change the subpoena status to "carried out."</i></p></div>",
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"tags": [
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{
"title": "Fox News White House correspondent subpoenaed in defamation suit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/fox-news-white-house-correspondent-subpoenaed-in-defamation-suit/",
"first_published_at": "2021-04-16T02:06:39.550344Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-04-06T15:43:59.689556Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-04-06T15:43:59.638300Z",
"date": "2019-11-01",
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"longitude": -77.03637,
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"k2zlj\">In the early hours of July 10, 2016, Seth Rich, a 27-year-old staffer with the Democratic National Committee, was <a href=\"https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/man-shot-killed-in-northwest-dc/2074048/\">fatally shot</a> while walking to his home in Washington, D.C. His death, while unsolved, is believed to be the result of a <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2019/08/08/749392506/conspiracyland-debunks-theories-about-murder-of-dnc-staffer-seth-rich\">robbery gone wrong</a>. It quickly, however, became a <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-43727858\">flash point</a> for conspiracy theories: that Rich had been behind a DNC email dump to WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, and that he’d effectively been assassinated because of it. None of the claims have ever been substantiated.</p><p data-block-key=\"yd0ud\">On March 26, 2018, Rich’s brother, Aaron, <a href=\"https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/27/media/seth-rich-brother-sues-washington-times/index.html\">filed a defamation suit</a> in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against a slew of defendants — Texas businessman and then-frequent Fox News guest Ed Butowsky, the Washington Times, America First Media Group and its founder, Matt Couch — who he’d alleged had shown a “reckless disregard for the truth” and falsely linked both himself and his brother to the email leak.</p><p data-block-key=\"prxfp\">During the course of three years of litigation, attorneys for both sides collectively subpoenaed nearly a dozen news outlets and members of the press. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documents all subpoena requests individually; Find a complete overview of the known subpoenas for this case in the blog post, “<a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/nearly-a-dozen-journalists-outlets-and-third-parties-subpoenaed-in-defamation-suit/\">Nearly a dozen journalists, outlets and third parties subpoenaed in defamation suit</a>.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6dw8y\">In January 2021, both <a href=\"https://thedcpatriot.com/statement-from-matt-couch/\">Couch</a> and <a href=\"https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/i-never-had-physical-proof-to-back-up-any-such-statements-former-fox-news-guest-apologizes-to-seth-richs-brother-for-dnc-conspiracy-theory/\">Butowsky</a> publicly apologized and retracted prior claims made about the Rich brothers, though Butowsky deleted his statement of contrition almost immediately, according to Law & Crime. Couch and Rich reached a settlement agreement on Jan. 19; Butowsky and Rich reached an agreement on March 22. The lawsuit was terminated officially when District Judge Richard Leon granted Rich’s motions to dismiss the charges against the defendants on March 29. The details of the settlement agreements were not made public.</p><h4 data-block-key=\"qqrp6\">Ellen Ratner | Former Fox News White House correspondent</h4><p data-block-key=\"d5j7u\">Ratner — who’s late brother, Michael, was one of WikiLeaks’ U.S. lawyers — <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M3Z4eE6cJA\">claimed</a> Assange told her during a three-hour meeting in London that the DNC email dump was executed by an insider, not the Russian government.</p><ul><li data-block-key=\"iy8b3\"><b>Aug. 18, 2019:</b> Couch lists Ratner in his initial disclosure statement as someone who is likely to have discoverable information, alleging she “has knowledge of her communications with Julian Assange relating to the leak of DNC emails to Wikileaks by one or more DNC insiders or affiliated persons.”</li><li data-block-key=\"q5fo0\"><b>Oct. 14, 2019:</b> Rich files a request to depose Ratner, along with Fox News reporter Malia Zimmerman and freelance reporter Cassandra Fairbanks.</li><li data-block-key=\"ntbr2\"><b>Nov. 1, 2019:</b> District Judge Richard Leon approves Rich’s request.</li><li data-block-key=\"m3zp4\"><b>Dec. 17, 2019:</b> Rich serves questions for the Rule 31 deposition of Ratner to Eden Quainton, Butowsky’s attorney. Under Rule 31, written questions are submitted by the issuing party and the opposing party has two weeks to submit “cross-questions.” A designated deposition officer then schedules and takes the deposition. Butowsky did not submit any such questions.</li><li data-block-key=\"sqwgm\"><b>Jan. 17, 2020:</b> Ratner complies with and completes the deposition in Ohio, where she resides.</li></ul><p data-block-key=\"qoi66\"><b>Status of Subpoena</b></p><p data-block-key=\"2wrjl\">Carried out. Following the completion of the deposition, Butowsky voiced a desire to cross-examine or re-depose Ratner, ultimately filing his own deposition subpoena and a motion to strike the first deposition in its entirety. The Tracker has documented the <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/fox-news-white-house-correspondent-receives-second-subpoena-for-documents-testimony-in-defamation-case/\">second subpoena here</a>.</p></div>",
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],
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"carried out"
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{
"title": "Multimedia journalist assaulted while reporting in Charlotte",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/multimedia-journalist-assaulted-while-reporting-in-charlotte/",
"first_published_at": "2021-02-10T22:08:57.164150Z",
"last_published_at": "2021-02-10T22:08:57.164150Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2021-02-10T22:08:57.129569Z",
"date": "2019-11-01",
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"city": "Charlotte",
"longitude": -80.84313,
"latitude": 35.22709,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p>Paige Pauroso, a multimedia journalist for WBTV, a CBS-affiliate station based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was assaulted while filming b-roll in the city on Nov. 1, 2019.</p><p>Pauroso, who did not respond to messages requesting comment, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/PaigePauroso/status/1192883992816697345\">posted a video</a> to Twitter that shows a woman approaching Pauroso as she’s carrying a camera atop a tripod toward a couple of cars. Approximately 5 seconds into the clip, the woman hits Pauroso in the head, knocking it into the camera. The woman appears to then say something to Pauroso and walk away.</p><p>According to a police report shared with the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the assault occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at the intersection of North Sharon Amity Road and Campbell Drive.</p><p>Pauroso wrote an <a href=\"https://twitter.com/PaigePauroso/status/1192884118582943744\">account</a> of the incident: “This woman verbally and then physically attacked me for just doing my job. I tried to diffuse the situation by deleting the clips she might have been in (she was walking on a public street). But it was obviously she hated me for just being in the neighborhood with a camera.”</p><p>Pauroso <a href=\"https://twitter.com/PaigePauroso/status/1193123884138213376\">wrote</a> that she was “a little shaken up” and her head was sore from where it hit the camera; she also confirmed that she had filed a police report about the incident.</p><p>“I’m ok, thankfully. But I know this situation could have been worse,” Pauroso wrote. “I’m not sure exactly the point of this post other than to remind other journalists to be careful. And for those outside the biz, your local journalists aren’t the enemy, we’re your neighbors.”</p><p>Pauroso also noted that safety concerns are an ongoing conversation among multimedia journalists — many of whom are young women — as they often report in the field alone.</p><p>Officer Thomas Hildebrand, a spokesperson for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, told the Tracker the case is still open and no one has been charged.</p></div>",
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"assailant": "private individual",
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"state": {
"name": "North Carolina",
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],
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{
"title": "Tech investor attempts to compel U.S. journalist to identify confidential source",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/tech-investor-attempts-compel-us-journalist-identify-confidential-source/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-18T18:32:29.405337Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-07-05T18:42:13.732314Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-07-05T18:42:13.540794Z",
"date": "2019-10-31",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"auvfh\">On Oct. 31, 2019, venture capital investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Shervin Pishevar filed an application for discovery against Fast Company senior news editor Marcus Baram in an effort to uncover identifying information about a source cited in a 2017 article.</p><p data-block-key=\"40ddi\">In September 2017, Baram met with a confidential source who claimed to have information concerning the arrest of the tech investor on suspicion of sexual assault in London that May. The source also claimed to have a copy of the police report from that arrest. In a response to a request for comment, Pishevar confirmed his arrest in a statement to Fast Company.</p><p data-block-key=\"rgqnx\">Information provided by the source and contained in the alleged police report was used in an article published by Fast Company in November 2017, having received inconclusive responses from the City of London Police concerning the document’s authenticity. The police report was later proven to be fabricated.</p><p data-block-key=\"gm1fl\">Fast Company <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/fast-company-subpoenaed-identifying-information-confidential-source/\">received a subpoena</a> from lawyers representing Pishevar in August 2019, seeking information they hoped to use in possible future court cases, or “contemplated criminal and civil proceedings in England,” according to a memorandum of law obtained by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"2tpvu\">General counsel for the magazine largely complied with the subpoena and follow up emails from Pishevar’s attorneys. They did not, however, provide identifying information about Baram’s confidential source, stating that Baram claimed reporter’s privilege under New York’s shield law.</p><p data-block-key=\"mpbfl\">Lucas Bento, an attorney for Pishevar, acknowledged that identifying information about the source was the central aim of the subpoena, and threatened to pursue a court-ordered deposition of Baram if Fast Company did not provide the identifying information voluntarily.</p><p data-block-key=\"3csiv\">Bento followed through on this threat on Oct. 31, filing an application for discovery for documents, communications and testimony from Baram. The application, which is the process by which subpoenas are issued by foreign parties and approved by U.S. courts, was obtained and reviewed by the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"pnm8u\">In an affidavit opposing the application filed on Dec. 4, Baram said that he often relies on speaking with sources on the condition of anonymity.</p><p data-block-key=\"r9vbt\">“My ability to report on matters of public interest depends on my ability to safeguard the identities of my sources and the confidentiality of the information that they provide. I have never revealed a confidential source,” Baram said.</p><p data-block-key=\"twzo5\">In addition to asserting his reporter’s privilege, Baram wrote that he was asserting his privilege against self-incrimination. He noted concerns that — while he maintains he committed no crime — Pishevar may pursue criminal charges against him.</p><p data-block-key=\"42ven\">“I am appalled that my honest newsgathering and truthful reporting about [City of London Police’s] arrest of Mr. Pishevar (a fact he has acknowledged) could result in criminal allegations against me by Mr. Pishevar,” Baram said.</p><p data-block-key=\"uecxx\"><i>This article was updated to reflect that Shervin Pishevar confirmed his arrest to Fast Company.</i><br/></p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"u14kk\">A portion of one of two subpoenas seeking confidential work product and testimony from Fast Company senior news editor Marcus Baram in relation to a 2017 article about investor Shervin Pishevar</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
"updates": [
"(2021-06-30 14:12:00+00:00) Judge dismisses request for Fast Company reporter to reveal confidential source",
"(2020-02-18 14:31:00+00:00) Judge dismisses tech investor’s attempt to compel disclosure of confidential source",
"(2020-10-03 10:51:00+00:00) Judge orders Fast Company reporter to reveal confidential source"
],
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"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Marcus Baram (Fast Company)"
],
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"quashed"
],
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},
{
"title": "Editor says arrest is in retaliation for his reporting",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/editor-says-arrest-retaliation-his-reporting/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-05T18:59:21.691241Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-01-17T17:22:59.641418Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-01-17T17:22:59.533883Z",
"date": "2019-10-25",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Washington",
"longitude": -77.03637,
"latitude": 38.89511,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"62jbi\">The Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal was arrested on assault charges on Oct. 25, 2019, at his home in Washington, D.C.</p><p data-block-key=\"wif4k\">Blumenthal told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that the charge is false and is in retaliation for his outlet’s reporting on the Venezuelan opposition.</p><p data-block-key=\"1g0aj\">An account of his arrest <a href=\"https://thegrayzone.com/2019/10/28/this-charge-is-one-hundred-percent-false-grayzone-editor-max-blumenthal-arrested-months-after-reporting-on-venezuelan-opposition-violence/\">was published on The Grayzone</a>, the site Blumenthal founded in 2015.</p><p data-block-key=\"u71xi\">In April and May of this year, the embassy in D.C. was the site for weeks-long protests between backers of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and supporters of Juan Guaidó, who has been recognized by the United States and other nations as the country’s interim president, <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/police-forcibly-remove-activists-living-in-the-venezuelan-embassy-in-washington/2019/05/16/80d464be-77cf-11e9-b3f5-5673edf2d127_story.html\">according to the Washington Post</a>. The Post reported that at least 10 other people were arrested in connection with the protests.</p><p data-block-key=\"22nqw\">In public court records, prosecutors claim that the alleged assault occurred during a confrontation involving the delivery of food and water to the embassy on May 8.</p><p data-block-key=\"q85v0\">The Tracker is so far unable to independently corroborate the editor’s assertion that this arrest was specifically in retaliation for his reporting, but we will continue to follow this case and report on it as it develops.</p><p data-block-key=\"slbm9\">Blumenthal said the next status hearing is scheduled for Nov. 22.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"aqc70\">Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guido demonstrate outside the Venezuelan embassy occupied by Nicolas Maduro supporters in Washington, D.C. in May.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "District of Columbia",
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},
"updates": [
"(2019-12-06 17:08:00+00:00) Charges against journalist Max Blumenthal dropped"
],
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"categories": [
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],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Max Blumenthal (The Grayzone)"
],
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},
{
"title": "California journalists sued for ‘hacking’ city’s open Dropbox folder; barred from publishing",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-journalists-sued-for-hacking-citys-open-dropbox-folder-barred-from-publishing/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-23T18:12:26.960064Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-03T23:00:27.067442Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-03T23:00:26.978795Z",
"date": "2019-10-24",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Fullerton",
"longitude": -117.92534,
"latitude": 33.87029,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"83cyx\">In a complaint filed in the California Superior Court of Orange County on Oct. 24, 2019, the city of Fullerton, California, accused a community blog and two contributors of violating anti-hacking laws for accessing confidential files city employees posted online, according to their lawyer Kelly Aviles and court documents reviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Aviles told CPJ in December that the suit could go to a jury trial in early 2020. The press freedom and legal advocacy group Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press <a href=\"https://www.rcfp.org/tech-press-freedom-11-3-2019/\">called</a> the case the “first … we’re aware of where the computer crime laws have been misused so brazenly against members of the news media.”</p><p data-block-key=\"i5x7r\">The city of Fullerton claims that the blog, Friends for Fullerton’s Future, and two of its journalists, Joshua Ferguson and David Curlee, accessed more than a dozen internal documents stored on the file hosting and sharing service Dropbox without permission, according to CPJ’s review. The blog <a href=\"https://www.fullertonsfuture.org/2019/fullerton-police-cut-a-deal-to-bypass-the-law/\">publishes</a> original articles and commentary on the city government and the local police department<i>.</i></p><p data-block-key=\"mgtft\">Aviles alleged, in a phone interview with CPJ, that the case is designed to retaliate against her clients for reporting and to block future publication. She told CPJ she has filed an anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation motion, or SLAPP, which permits courts to dismiss lawsuits that are intended to censor public speech.</p><p data-block-key=\"5bju8\">“The City’s suit was not in retaliation for anything,” Fullerton’s lawyer Kimberly Hall Barlow wrote in an email to CPJ. The blog was not a factor in the decision to bring the case, she said.</p><p data-block-key=\"k2ov1\">“If the argument is that a reporter can steal information him or herself and then be allowed to publish it at will, that is neither consistent with the first amendment law nor the ethical tenets of professional journalists,” she said.</p><p data-block-key=\"irbnn\">Ferguson routinely requested public records, and the city had provided him with a link to the Dropbox folder in the past, he told CPJ. The city acknowledges sending a link to access the folder in response to records requests, according to court filings reviewed by CPJ. The folder was not password protected, and anyone could access it via the web address in the link. Files that were approved for public release were kept in the same folder as others that had not been, some of which were password protected, according to those documents.</p><p data-block-key=\"sth1r\">The complaint said Ferguson and Curlee accessed files in the folder that had not been approved for release, thereby violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, a federal law intended to combat hacking, and a similar state law, the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act. CPJ has <a href=\"https://cpj.org/blog/2019/06/tech-journalists-troubled-assange-CFAA-charge.php\">reported</a> concerns that the CFAA’s broad wording could be used to punish routine online journalistic activity.</p><p data-block-key=\"p1sgm\">The complaint said the journalists had intentionally obscured their activity using a virtual private network and the Tor browser — digital security tools that CPJ and others routinely <a href=\"https://cpj.org/2019/07/digital-safety-kit-journalists.php\">recommend</a> that journalists use online. The City also requested a forensic analysis of the reporters’ computers and sought prior restraint to block future publication based on the files — a request that RCFP called “concerning” and Aviles called unconstitutional in court documents.</p><p data-block-key=\"0yk4g\">In November, a trial court in Orange County did not allow that forensic examination, according to Aviles, while an appeals court <a href=\"https://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/dockets.cfm?dist=43&doc_id=2302187&doc_no=G058506&request_token=OCIwLSIkTkg9WzBZSCItUEtIUFw7UFxbJiBeUzpSXDtOCg%3D%3D\">stayed</a> the attempt to block future publication in December. But the anti-hacking lawsuit against the blog is ongoing, Aviles told CPJ.</p><p data-block-key=\"m3dhh\">“The city is calling me a hacker and a thief,” Ferguson told CPJ in December. Yet, he said, “the idea they are presenting — that hacking is just clicking a link — that idea would literally break the internet if broadly applied.”</p><p data-block-key=\"e2kak\">“The conduct that the City complains of is no more criminal than clicking through the City’s website, finding confidential information, and downloading it,” Aviles wrote in court filings reviewed by CPJ. The city’s lawsuit is in “retaliation for Mr. Ferguson’s CPRA lawsuit and to silence the Blog,” she wrote. Immediately before the city launched its lawsuit, Ferguson had filed a California Public Records Act lawsuit requesting the release of documents related to alleged police misconduct, he told CPJ.</p><p data-block-key=\"u2q86\">Kimberly Hall Barlow told CPJ that the city decided to file their suit before Ferguson filed his.</p><p data-block-key=\"gohk6\">Ferguson told CPJ that the city’s complaint included Christopher Tennyson, his former co-worker at a local camera store where they sometimes shared the same computer, in order to damage Ferguson’s professional relationships. Kimberly Hall Barlow denied this, noting to CPJ that the city later dropped Tennyson from the suit.</p><p data-block-key=\"p9yw5\">Aviles said the case was draining her clients’ financial resources and impeding their ability to continue reporting.</p><p data-block-key=\"jhjz4\">“It would be hard for a large newspaper to deal with this,” Aviles told CPJ in November. “But for a blog of concerned citizen journalists — who felt like there was no voice in their community — it’s an outrageous thing to face.”</p><p data-block-key=\"s0nbw\">RCFP <a href=\"https://www.rcfp.org/briefs-comments/friends-for-fullertons-future/\">filed</a> an amicus brief in support of the bloggers, as <a href=\"https://www.rcfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/G058506-Fullerton-amicus-brief-of-EFF.pdf\">did</a> the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a leading U.S. digital rights group. The editorial board of the local <i>Orange County Register</i> newspaper published an <a href=\"https://www.ocregister.com/2019/11/13/fullerton-off-base-in-targeting-local-blog/\">editorial</a> in November asking the city to drop the case and “get some professional advice on how to password-protect its files.”</p></div>",
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"(2021-05-12 13:59:00+00:00) City drops lawsuit against bloggers it accused of hacking documents",
"(2020-03-12 11:30:00+00:00) Judge denies motion to dismiss under anti-SLAPP law"
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{
"title": "White House plans to instruct federal agencies to cancel subscriptions to two major news outlets",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/white-house-plans-instruct-federal-agencies-cancel-subscriptions-two-major-news-outlets/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-06T17:55:27.651760Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T19:50:01.397295Z",
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"date": "2019-10-24",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"xok7v\">The White House announced that President Donald Trump plans to instruct federal agencies to not renew their subscriptions to The New York Times and the Washington Post, as <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-to-tell-federal-agencies-to-cut-new-york-times-washington-post-subscriptions-11571937831?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1\">reported</a> by the Wall Street Journal on Oct. 24, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"0mf12\">Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told the Journal, “Not renewing subscriptions across all federal agencies will be a significant cost saving—hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars will be saved.”</p><p data-block-key=\"z9ufa\">Grisham did not provide additional details, such as how many subscriptions the federal government currently has, how the White House intends to compel agencies to cancel the subscriptions and when the order would take effect.</p><p data-block-key=\"h9lc3\">The decision came less than a week after Trump said during an interview on Fox News that the Times wasn’t wanted in the White House anymore.</p><p data-block-key=\"5lbw0\">“We’re going to probably terminate that and the Washington Post. They’re fake,” Trump added.</p><p data-block-key=\"sf6q9\">Neither the Times or the Post communications departments responded to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"9zlsf\">Jennifer Jacobs, a senior White House correspondent for Bloomberg, tweeted that the White House followed through with the President’s threat and that Oct. 22 was the last day physical copies of those newspapers were delivered.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">White House says it’s going to do things and doesn’t always follow through, but NYT and WaPo subscriptions were ended. <br><br>Some aides privately expressing regret. But doubt Trump will stop reading either.<br><br>WaPo *online* subscription remains. <br><br>WH still gets WSJ, Hill, NY Post etc. <a href=\"https://t.co/1H3lzdBtYM\">pic.twitter.com/1H3lzdBtYM</a></p>— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1187383175741431808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 24, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"vortz\">Jonathan Karl, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, <a href=\"https://apnews.com/129baf8e83824dcfb75c3f4e6533582c\">told The Associated Press</a>, “I have no doubt the hardworking reporters of The New York Times and Washington Post will continue to do quality journalism, regardless of whether the president acknowledges he reads them. Pretending to ignore the work of a free press won’t make the news go away or stop reporters from informing the public and holding those in power accountable.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2ey1s\">Axios <a href=\"https://www.axios.com/trump-new-york-times-washington-post-apps-7abddada-20d6-4707-8c96-ed83fc2f4c3c.html\">reported</a> that sources familiar with the president’s iPhone confirmed that Trump has not deleted the Times and the Post’s cellphone apps, maintaining digital access to the two newspapers.</p><p data-block-key=\"wcaau\">Trump’s “fake news” rhetoric has trickled down to the local level. The same day the White House said it would instruct federal agencies to not renew subscriptions, <a href=\"http://citruscountyfl.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=2453&Format=Minutes\">county commissioners in Florida denied</a> local librarians’ request for funds to provide their roughly 70,000 patrons with digital access to the Times. The Citrus County Chronicle <a href=\"https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/read-all-about-it-county-says-no-to-ny-times/article_4acceeca-f76a-11e9-932e-7fec20f83a0b.html\">reported</a> that when the request came before the commission, the officials laughed aloud.</p><p data-block-key=\"omo8q\">Commissioner Scott Carnahan also called the newspaper “fake news.”</p><p data-block-key=\"rijsn\">“I agree with President Trump,” he said. “I will not be voting for this. I don’t want The New York Times in this county.”</p><p data-block-key=\"hg093\">All five members of the commission agreed to reject the library’s request. The Chronicle reported that it spoke to four of them and commissioners Brian Coleman and Chairman Jeff Kinnard cited concerns that approving the request would lead to requests for subscriptions to more “radical publications.” Coleman also said, “I support President Trump. I would say they put stuff in there that’s not necessarily verified.”</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"jvwcb\">President Donald Trump speaks to the media in this 2018 file photo. Trump said in a Fox News interview recently that he wanted to keep specific newspapers out of the White House.</p>",
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{
"title": "Reporter says White House senior adviser threatened to ‘delve’ into her personal life",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/washington-examiner-reporter-says-white-house-senior-adviser-threatened-delve-her-personal-life/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-08T21:03:14.738084Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-25T19:42:54.588447Z",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"5y5r0\">Caitlin Yilek, a breaking news reporter for the Washington Examiner, <a href=\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/powerful-woman-kellyanne-conway-mocks-and-threatens-reporter-for-mentioning-her-husband-audio/\">wrote</a> that she was berated and threatened by top White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway during a phone call on Oct. 23, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"nli6w\">Yilek had published an article the day before about President Donald Trump considering Conway as his next chief of staff; Yilek included details about the feud between the president and Conway’s husband, George Conway. Tom Joannou, Conway’s assistant, contacted Yilek that evening asking for her phone number.</p><p data-block-key=\"qvkiy\">The morning of Oct. 23, Joannou called and requested that their conversation be off the record, but moments later Conway took over the call, initiating a new, on-the-record conversation. Conway appeared to be furious with the reporter’s coverage, and berated Yilek for what she classified as lazy, irrelevant and sexist reporting.</p><p data-block-key=\"bov3r\">In a <a href=\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/transcript-of-telephone-call-between-kellyanne-conway-and-caitlin-yilek\">transcript</a> of the call published by the Examiner, Conway says, “So, I just am wondering why in God’s earth you would need to mention anything about George Conway’s tweets in an article that talks about me as possibly being chief of staff. Other than it looks to me like there’s no original reporting here, you just read Twitter and other people’s stuff, which I guess is why you don’t pick up the phone when people call from the White House because, if it’s not on Twitter or it’s not on cable TV, it’s not real.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2bti2\">Conway also accused Yilek of “trying to undercut another woman based on who she’s married to,” and dismissed Yilek’s explanations of why information about George Conway was considered important contextual information.</p><p data-block-key=\"shwpv\">Near the end of the call, Conway said: “Listen, if you’re going to cover my personal life, then we’re welcome to do the same around here.” Yilek <a href=\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/powerful-woman-kellyanne-conway-mocks-and-threatens-reporter-for-mentioning-her-husband-audio/\">later characterized</a> the statement as a threat that “the White House would delve into the personal lives of reporters if they wrote about her husband.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9i1tu\">Conway disputed Yilek’s version of events, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KellyannePolls/status/1187502654026604547?s=20\">saying in a lengthy statement</a>, “What I said on that call I’ve said publicly on-the-record before, including on TV, in speeches, in driveway gaggles with reporters. I did NOT indicate the call was off-the-record, but the reporter certainly thought it was.”</p><p data-block-key=\"io33l\">Neither Conway nor Yilek responded to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"vjukn\">In <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/kellyanne-conway-calls-reporter-lazy-after-story-sparks-controversy/2019/10/25/cf7db852-608d-456c-9a0b-811d6dbba0da_video.html\">a video published by The Washington Post</a>, a reporter asked Conway to clarify what she meant by “cover her personal life.” Conway responded, “Right, so, don’t use the word ‘threaten’ and don’t use the word ‘investigate’ and stop being so silly.” She did not, however, elaborate on her original intent with the statement to Yilek.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"cr5vm\">White House senior advisor Kellyanne Conway speaks to reporters at the White House in October. REUTERS/Tom Brenner</p>",
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{
"title": "Former House Speaker Gingrich says, if he could, he would eliminate the White House press corps",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/former-house-speaker-gingrich-says-if-he-could-he-would-eliminate-white-house-press-corps/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-20T19:13:23.200951Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-04-06T17:23:49.524653Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-04-06T17:23:49.476521Z",
"date": "2019-10-21",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"pjet6\">Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said during a CBS News interview on Oct. 21, 2019, that he would eliminate the White House press corps if he had the authority to do so.</p><p data-block-key=\"pdzo9\">While Gingrich <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/newt-gingrich-former-speaker-reporters-white-house-today-2019-10-21/\">appeared on CBSN Monday</a> to promote his new book, he was asked by anchor Vladimir Duthiers whether he would have given a press briefing like Mick Mulvaney did if he were chief of staff. The previous week, Mulvaney gave a news conference during which he appeared to admit that President Donald Trump had asked for help investigating a political rival in exchange for releasing military aid for Ukraine.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/newtgingrich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NewtGingrich</a> on advising Pres. Trump and Mick Mulvaney before Mulvaney's quid pro quo remarks during WH briefing: "If I had had the ability to do it, there wouldn't be a White House press corps in the White House." <a href=\"https://t.co/g1VHZ94AH7\">https://t.co/g1VHZ94AH7</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/ypMzH0AKkE\">pic.twitter.com/ypMzH0AKkE</a></p>— CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1186298186035617793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 21, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"xincl\">Gingrich responded, "If I had had the ability to do it, there wouldn't be a White House press corps in the White House.”</p><p data-block-key=\"ldlkv\">"Why is that?" asked CBSN anchor Anne-Marie Green.</p><p data-block-key=\"r0i39\">“They’re all enemies of the president,” Gingrich said. “Why would you call on people who get up every morning saying, ‘I hate Donald Trump. I wonder how I can make his life miserable’?”</p><p data-block-key=\"9il6n\">Green interjected that press briefings are opportunities for the president to speak to the people. Gingrich dismissed that characterization, echoing <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-white-house-held-traditional-press-briefing-months/story?id=65509975\">the sentiments of White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham</a> when she said she was not planning to resume regular press briefings.</p><p data-block-key=\"zfe6b\">“The president can speak to the people anytime,” Gingrich said. “He doesn’t need to speak to a bunch of reporters who are then going to be distorted by their editors.”</p><p data-block-key=\"u5e5h\">The Hill <a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/466797-gingrich-calls-for-eliminating-white-house-press-corps-in-wake-of\">reported</a> that Gingrich made similar comments in May 2017. According to The Hill’s <a href=\"https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/333244-gingrich-urges-trump-close-down-the-press-room\">reporting at the time</a>, Gingrich called on Trump to follow through on his threat to cancel the daily press briefings and advised him to treat the news media as “dishonest opponents pretending to be reporters.”</p><p data-block-key=\"cxog6\">Grisham and her press secretary predecessor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, have effectively ended the daily White House press briefings. In January, <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/trump-stops-regular-press-briefings-citing-unfair-media-treatment/\">Trump tweeted</a> that the lack of regular briefings was the result of directions he gave to Sanders. ABC News <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-white-house-held-traditional-press-briefing-months/story?id=65509975\">reported</a> that Wednesday, Sept. 11 marked six months since the White House held a traditional briefing.</p></div>",
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{
"title": "Astros fire assistant general manager for inappropriate comments to reporters",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/astros-fire-assistant-general-manager-inappropriate-comments-reporters/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-13T21:08:26.666664Z",
"last_published_at": "2019-11-13T21:08:26.666664Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2019-11-13T21:08:26.592381Z",
"date": "2019-10-19",
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"city": "Houston",
"longitude": -95.36327,
"latitude": 29.76328,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p>The Houston Astros fired Brandon Taubman, the baseball team's assistant general manager, on Oct. 24, 2019, after Taubman made improper comments toward female reporters about a team member accused of domestic violence.</p><p>On Oct. 19, during celebrations in the Astros clubhouse following the team's victory over the New York Yankees to win the American League pennant, Taubman yelled “Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f------ glad we got Osuna!” directing his comments at three female reporters nearby, one of whom was wearing a purple rubber domestic violence-awareness bracelet.</p><p>Pitcher Roberto Osuna was a Toronto Blue Jay when he was suspended without pay for 75 games during the 2018 season for violating Major League Baseball's domestic violence policy. Osuna had been accused of assaulting the mother of his three-year-old child. The Astros hired Osuna near the end of that suspension despite having a "zero tolerance policy" against domestic violence, drawing widespread criticism.</p><p>Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein, one of the reporters at whom Taubman directed his remarks, published a<a href=\"https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/10/22/houston-astros-roberto-osuna-suspension\"> story</a> on Oct. 21 describing Taubman's outburst and putting it in broader context.</p><p>"The outburst was offensive and frightening enough that another Houston staffer apologized. The Astros declined to comment. They also declined to make Taubman available for an interview," she wrote. "Taubman's timing was odd," Apstein continued, as Osuna had not performed well that evening. "He had been, by Baseball Reference’s calculations and any intelligent observer’s assessment, the least valuable Astro that night. So why would Taubman choose that moment, to taunt that demographic? It’s not hard to figure out."</p><p>But for his arrest for domestic violence, Osuna would likely have never become an Astro, Apstein continued. "Osuna was one of the best closers in the game, and his infraction made him, in the mind of the Astros’ front office, a distressed asset. They traded for him, and in terms of traditional organizational capital, the price was low: the Astros gave up their own struggling closer and two middling pitching prospects for him," she wrote. "But the price was low for a reason: Many teams didn’t want to deal with the public backlash for acquiring Osuna."</p><p>The Houston Chronicle reported that Taubman’s comments were directed at one particular female reporter. “In casual conversations at the end of the 2018 season, Taubman complained about the reporter to multiple people,” the Chronicle <a href=\"https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-GM-Jeff-Luhnow-describes-different-14557067.php?utm_source=article&utm_campaign=AOA\">reported</a>, without naming the individual in question.</p><p>After Apstein's story was published, the Astros put out a statement accusing the reporter of fabrication: "The story posted by Sports Illustrated is misleading and completely irresponsible," the<a href=\"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHcvIdRXkAAm7Rx.jpg\"> statement</a> began, attributing Taubman's comments to "the game situation that had just occurred and nothing else -- they were also not directed toward any specific reporters. We are extremely disappointed in Sports Illustrated's attempts to fabricate a story where one does not exist."</p><p>Sports Illustrated came to Apstein's defense in a<a href=\"http://si.com/mlb/2019/10/22/sports-illustrated-statement-response-astros-story\"> statement</a> the next day: "Sports Illustrated unequivocally stands behind Apstein, her reporting and the story, which was subsequently corroborated by several other media members present at the scene. Any implication that SI or any of its journalists would ‘fabricate’ a story in its detail or intent is both disappointing and completely inexcusable."</p><p>Two days later, on Oct. 24, the Astros fired Taubman and tweeted out a mea culpa:</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https://t.co/pFBOZPI0E3\">pic.twitter.com/pFBOZPI0E3</a></p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/astros/status/1187487537503318016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 24, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p>Team owner Jim Crane on Oct. 26 sent a short<a href=\"https://twitter.com/stephapstein/status/1188501342756769793\"> letter</a> to Apstein admitting fault, writing, "We were wrong and I am sorry that we initially questioned your professionalism."</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p>A view of Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, where the Astros beat the New York Yankees in six games for baseball’s American League pennant on Oct. 19, 2019.</p>",
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{
"title": "Trump’s anti-press language on Twitter mirrored in violent video created by supporter",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/trumps-anti-press-language-on-twitter-mirrored-in-violent-video-created-by-supporter/",
"first_published_at": "2019-10-15T20:32:22.755844Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-03-11T14:59:23.239802Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-03-11T14:59:23.168577Z",
"date": "2019-10-19",
"exact_date_unknown": true,
"city": "Miami",
"longitude": -80.19366,
"latitude": 25.77427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ewwk9\">More than half of the news outlets depicted in a graphic fake video of President Donald Trump assaulting his critics have also been singled out in anti-press tweets published by the president.</p><p data-block-key=\"9zhwh\">In a video <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/us/politics/trump-video.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share\">shared</a> with The New York Times over the weekend, a fake Trump in a pinstripe suit rampages through a church, shooting, stabbing and assaulting those in the pews, many of whom bear the faces of his political opponents, critics and journalists. As Trump massacres his way through the “Church of Fake News,” the faces of two media figures and the logos of <a href=\"https://twitter.com/jbenton/status/1183754027651227653\">at least 23 news organizations</a> are superimposed on his victims, ranging from Bloomberg and NPR to HuffPost and BuzzFeed, from The Guardian to PBS.</p><p data-block-key=\"0ysfg\">The video was played at one point during a pro-Trump conference from Oct. 10–12, 2019, at the president’s hotel and golf resort near Miami, but has been circulating across the internet since at least July 2018, <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/14/tech/fake-trump-video-youtube-response/index.html\">according to</a> CNN.</p><p data-block-key=\"tc1x6\">Following the Times’ publication and amid national outcry, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham posted a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1183720685027368960\">tweet</a> stating that the president had not yet seen the edited scene. “But based upon everything he has heard, he strongly condemns this video,” Grisham wrote.</p><p data-block-key=\"55hk9\">As of publication, Trump has not personally condemned the video.</p><p data-block-key=\"x4op3\">A <a href=\"https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uNA6nsgcRhhQ0b6USsMNzhYLMfuDRSMhbGZNZ00WkHk/edit#gid=0\">database of Trump’s negative tweets</a> about the press, compiled by U.S. Press Freedom Tracker reporter Stephanie Sugars, finds that 11% of all of his tweets since declaring his candidacy contain negative language about news organizations, specific journalists and the media as a whole.</p><p data-block-key=\"iaqam\">To date, 13 of the news organizations represented in the video have been mentioned by name in his anti-press tweets.</p><p data-block-key=\"d6kqe\">According to <a href=\"https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uNA6nsgcRhhQ0b6USsMNzhYLMfuDRSMhbGZNZ00WkHk/edit#gid=0\">the database</a>, CNN has been directly mentioned in 215 such tweets, NBC in 124 and The Washington Post in 107.</p><p data-block-key=\"d4zbp\">Over the years, Trump has referred to NBC staff as “<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1172858577951821825\">losers</a>,” “<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1148016423735836674\">degenerate… Trump haters</a>,” “<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1083207607412760576\">crazy</a>” and “<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/832708293516632065\">the enemy of the American People</a>,” and has <a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1036991866124861440\">implied</a> that the station’s broadcasting license should be reevaluated or revoked.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https://twitter.com/politico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@politico</a> covers me more inaccurately than any other media source, and that is saying something. They go out of their way to distort truth!</p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/635175769069723648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 22, 2015</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"t625r\">Politico has been featured in 19 of the president’s anti-press tweets, CBS in 16 and Univision in eight.</p><p data-block-key=\"fhas0\">In August 2015, Trump <a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/635175769069723648\">tweeted</a>, “[Politico] covers me more inaccurately than any other media source, and that is saying something.”</p><p data-block-key=\"fbyir\">In a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/whca/status/1183584200114495488\">statement released on Twitter</a>, White House Correspondents’ Association President Jonathan Karl of ABC News expressed horror at the video: “We have previously told the President his rhetoric could incite violence. Now we call on him and everybody associated with this conference to denounce this video and affirm that violence has no place in our society,” Karl said.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">WHCA Statement on video depicting President Trump murdering journalists. <a href=\"https://t.co/52lHFaQjU2\">pic.twitter.com/52lHFaQjU2</a></p>— WHCA (@whca) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/whca/status/1183584200114495488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 14, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"5ifl5\">ABC News, which the video depicts being shot in the head by the president, has been featured in 48 of the president’s anti-press tweets.</p><p data-block-key=\"ka91o\">The two journalists clearly identifiable in the video—Mika Brzezinski and Rachel Maddow, both of MSNBC—have also been featured in Trump’s negative tweets about the press. Trump has directly targeted Maddow four times and Brzezinski 13 times, referring to her as “<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/767683204039974912\">a neurotic and not very bright mess</a>” and a “<a href=\"https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1160665444619100160\">very angry Psycho</a>.”</p><p data-block-key=\"f8l9p\">The Times <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/us/politics/trump-video.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share\">reported</a> that the video’s creation and display at the conference demonstrates how Trump’s anti-press language has influenced his supporters and political allies.</p><p data-block-key=\"1362h\">Trump has tweeted and retweeted similar videos in both tone and content—albeit less violent—in the past. In 2017, he received condemnation from media outlets and press freedom advocates after he <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/trump-tweets-video-him-wrestling-cnn/\">posted a video</a> of himself participating in WrestleMania, edited to have the CNN logo replacing the face of the man he body slams and beats up.</p><p data-block-key=\"ke276\">On Sept. 6 of this year, he <a href=\"https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1170089069105340416\">tweeted</a> a video that ended with the CNN logo, photoshopped onto an out-of-control vehicle, crashing and bursting into flames.</p><p data-block-key=\"wdosj\">Despite the news about the video’s placement at the conference breaking over the weekend, Trump has continued to use negative language against the press on social media. Since Sunday, he has posted at least 11 more tweets attacking the media, including ABC News and CNN—both of which were depicted in the graphic video—along with The Times and Fox News’ Chris Wallace and Brian Kilmeade.</p><p data-block-key=\"lyj9p\"><a href=\"https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uNA6nsgcRhhQ0b6USsMNzhYLMfuDRSMhbGZNZ00WkHk/edit?usp=sharing\"><i>Explore the live U.S. Press Freedom Tracker database tracking these tweets—including tweets by year, primary target, and terms like "fake news"—here.</i></a></p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"m7wd7\">A highly-edited video showing a fake President Donald Trump violently murdering opponents, critics and news organizations was reportedly shown during a pro-Trump conference at one of his hotels in Florida.</p>",
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"Rachel Maddow (MSNBC)"
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{
"title": "Journalist alleges bodyguard pushed, assaulted him outside San Francisco courthouse",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-alleges-bodyguard-pushed-assaulted-him-outside-san-francisco-courthouse/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-15T18:46:44.428721Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-06T21:28:05.712651Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-06T21:28:05.627117Z",
"date": "2019-10-15",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "San Francisco",
"longitude": -122.41942,
"latitude": 37.77493,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"z8b66\">Multimedia journalist Phelim McAleer told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he was assaulted by a bodyguard for Planned Parenthood outside of a San Francisco courthouse on Oct. 15, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"mh7pd\">McAleer said he was attempting to interview Dr. Mary Gatter, who had just finished testifying in Planned Parenthood’s suit against activist David Daleiden.</p><p data-block-key=\"ngboj\">Footage of the incident posted to McAleer's YouTube channel shows McAleer asking questions of Gatter as she walks toward an SUV waiting on the side of the street. As he appears to move around Gatter’s bodyguard to continue asking questions, the man pushes McAleer backward repeatedly. In the video, McAleer is heard shouting, “You’re assaulting me! Get your hands off me!”</p><p data-block-key=\"x0kru\">McAleer told the Tracker that the bodyguard shoved and pushed him before jabbing him in the ribs. McAleer called the police who, according to a summary of the police report shared with the Tracker, were dispatched to the courthouse just before noon.</p><p data-block-key=\"ju8qi\">“Officers met with an adult male victim (investigative Journalist) who stated that he was assaulted by an adult male while trying to interview a witness,” Public Information Officer Joseph Tomlinson shared over email. “Officers reviewed the surveillance footage of the incident and did not see a battery of the victim.”</p><p data-block-key=\"5vdqi\">In regards to the police determination that he was not assaulted, McAleer said, “I think they looked at a confusing situation on my phone and made a snap judgement.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"9ro9l\">Multimedia journalist Phelim McAleer filed a police report alleging assault outside of a San Francisco courthouse.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "California",
"abbreviation": "CA"
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"categories": [
"Assault"
],
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"Phelim McAleer (Independent)"
],
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{
"title": "Documentarian questioned about film when returning from West Bank",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/documentarian-questioned-about-film-when-returning-from-west-bank/",
"first_published_at": "2023-11-09T18:38:32.162531Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-11-09T18:45:44.552707Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-11-09T18:45:44.456526Z",
"date": "2019-10-10",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Dallas",
"longitude": -96.80667,
"latitude": 32.78306,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ujzf8\">Independent filmmaker Michael Rowley was questioned about his documentary work on the lives of young Palestinian men upon arriving at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas on Oct. 10, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"5temp\">Rowley told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he had flown to Tel Aviv, Israel, to attend a screening in the West Bank city of Ramallah for his debut documentary “<a href=\"https://www.hurdlefilm.com/\">Hurdle</a>.” After landing back in the United States, the automated machines at U.S. Customs flagged his picture with a black “X,” requiring him to report to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent for further screening.</p><p data-block-key=\"o48k\">After sitting in a waiting room for 30 minutes, Rowley said an agent who did not identify himself directed him into an interview room for questioning. The plainclothes officer had the documentary’s website pulled up on a screen in view of Rowley and questioned him for about an hour before he was released.</p><p data-block-key=\"3s0fm\">The official asked him about why he was interested in Palestine, what the film was about and whether Israeli security forces had any issues with him making the documentary. “This U.S. official then asked me specific questions about the content of my documentary film, the characters in it and my methods for making the film,” Rowley said.</p><p data-block-key=\"639b8\">He added that he was specifically asked to identify one of the men who appeared in the film’s trailer and about why he had submitted endorsements for the visa applications of the documentary’s three main characters so they could attend the U.S. premiere.</p><p data-block-key=\"7hc75\">He was also questioned about a past layover in Moscow, Russia, and whether he had a meeting with anyone while there.</p><p data-block-key=\"5kbma\">Rowley was stopped for secondary screening <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/documentarian-questioned-again-when-returning-from-film-festival/\">again in March 2023</a> when returning from a trip to Denmark. He was questioned about his journalistic work, with an officer informing him that he was in their system “due to someone he had filmed with.”</p><p data-block-key=\"a13oq\">Rowley told the Tracker that he filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program in April 2023 after speaking with an attorney from the ACLU in an effort to prevent further security screenings.</p><p data-block-key=\"328i0\">“It is clear from the questions that CBP officials have asked me that I am being singled out for questioning and additional security screening due to my First Amendment-protected journalistic and filmmaking activities,” Rowley wrote in his complaint, which asks that he be removed from any watchlist that he may have been added to.</p><p data-block-key=\"bfti9\">Rowley told the Tracker in November 2023 that during the two trips that he has taken since, he has not been stopped for additional security or questioning, but that his experiences had affected his reporting.</p><p data-block-key=\"cihhc\">“I was in the early stages of working on a new documentary here in Dallas, which I decided to put on hiatus indefinitely because of the realization of being on a watchlist and for fear of bringing government attention to the characters in the film,” Rowley said. “It certainly had a chilling effect on me and my work.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"xzgdp\">Documentary filmmaker Michael Rowley, seen here at the West Bank screening of his film “Hurdle,” was questioned about the film, methods of filming it and the characters in it upon returning to the United States on Oct. 10, 2019.</p>",
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"categories": [
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{
"title": "Counterterrorism analyst charged with leaking classified documents to two reporters",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/counterterrorism-analyst-charged-leaking-classified-documents-two-reporters/",
"first_published_at": "2019-10-10T17:59:34.197701Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-01-18T18:42:04.641361Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-01-18T18:42:04.544259Z",
"date": "2019-10-09",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Alexandria",
"longitude": -77.04692,
"latitude": 38.80484,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"7vvsn\">Henry Kyle Frese, a counterterrorism analyst for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, was arrested when he arrived at work on Oct. 9, 2019, accused of leaking classified information about a foreign country’s weapons systems to two journalists.</p><p data-block-key=\"aq2ye\">Frese has been charged under the Espionage Act with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information, and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on both counts, the Justice Department <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/defense-intelligence-agency-employee-arrested-leaking-classified-information-journalists\">announced</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"qg9tx\">The Justice Department <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1207916/download\">indictment</a> details alleged contact with two journalists dating back to April 2018, at least some of which took place over Twitter direct messaging. Officials also allege that Frese was in a romantic relationship with one of the journalists, citing their shared home address from August 2017 to August 2018.</p><p data-block-key=\"qy21b\">In a <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/defense-intelligence-agency-employee-arrested-leaking-classified-information-journalists\">statement</a> announcing the indictment, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers said, “Frese was caught red-handed disclosing sensitive national security information for personal gain.” The indictment alleges that Frese accessed at least three classified intelligence reports unrelated to his job and discussed their contents with the reporters.</p><p data-block-key=\"fb84r\">The Wall Street Journal <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/counterterrorism-analyst-arrested-for-leaking-to-two-journalists-11570644872\">reported</a> that while the reporters to whom Frese is accused of leaking are not named in the indictment, details suggest that the journalists are Amanda Macias, a national security reporter for CNBC, and Courtney Kube, a national security and Pentagon correspondent for NBC.</p><p data-block-key=\"seox2\">The indictment alleges that the first journalist, believed to be Macias, urged Frese to pass additional top secret information to one of her colleagues, and he agreed to do so to help advance her career. The indictment says cellphone surveillance from Sept. 24, 2019, caught Frese communicating national defense information to the second reporter, believed to be Kube.</p><p data-block-key=\"s442r\">In <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1207911/download\">an affidavit</a> supporting the seizure of Frese’s phone records, FBI Special Agent Donny Kim wrote, “There is probable cause to believe Frese committed violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 793(d) and (e), willful transmission of national defense information.” These sections are more commonly known as part of the Espionage Act.</p><p data-block-key=\"z4y80\">Frese is the<a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/leak-case/?categories=7\"> eighth person to be investigated</a> by President Trump’s Justice Department for allegedly sharing confidential information with the press. The Trump administration is on pace to surpass the Obama administration’s record of the most prosecutions of alleged journalistic sources. During President Obama’s two terms in office, the Department of Justice brought<a href=\"https://freedom.press/news/obama-used-espionage-act-put-record-number-reporters-sources-jail-and-trump-could-be-even-worse/\"> charges against eight people</a> accused of leaking to the media.</p><p data-block-key=\"zbm7l\">Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement that these prosecutions can have a chilling effect.</p><p data-block-key=\"uyfm0\">"Prosecuting a civil servant under the Espionage Act puts leaking information of interest to the American people on a par with spying for a foreign county," Martínez de la Serna said.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"c6l6u\">A police booking mugshot released by the sheriff’s office in Alexandria, Virginia, shows U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analyst Henry Kyle Frese after his arrest on charges of leaking classified materials to journalists.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Virginia",
"abbreviation": "VA"
},
"updates": [
"(2020-06-18 16:23:00+00:00) Former counterterrorism analyst sentenced to over two years in prison for leaking classified documents",
"(2020-02-20 15:18:00+00:00) Former counterterrorism analyst pleads guilty to leaking classified documents to two reporters"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [
"Amanda Macias (CNBC)",
"Courtney Kube (NBC)"
],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"Department of Justice",
"Espionage Act"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
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"categories": [
"Leak Case"
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},
{
"title": "Independent prisons reporter removed from Alabama government press lists",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-prisons-reporter-removed-from-alabama-government-press-lists/",
"first_published_at": "2022-02-03T16:23:00.225232Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-21T16:45:53.034505Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-21T16:45:52.948819Z",
"date": "2019-10-08",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Birmingham",
"longitude": -86.80249,
"latitude": 33.52066,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"bbjm8\">Independent reporter Beth Shelburne was notified of her removal from the Alabama Department of Corrections press distribution list on Oct. 8, 2019, on the basis that Shelburne did not work for an “accredited news organization." Shelburne alleged that it was in retaliation for her reporting and opinion pieces.</p><p data-block-key=\"6j1a0\">Birmingham-based Shelburne told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker in January 2022 that she has been covering prisons in the state since 2012. After leaving her position at WBRC FOX6 News in July 2019, she said she was able to have her new email address added to the ADOC press distribution list.</p><p data-block-key=\"fcsfr\">That August, she wrote an op-ed criticizing the department’s funeral for a K-9 officer killed in a contraband raid. After the piece was published she stopped receiving regular press releases from the department.</p><p data-block-key=\"e6s8r\">Following the death of an inmate in early October, Shelburne said she tried to receive confirmation and comment from the department’s communication director, Linda Mays, who told her to check the ADOC website or submit a formal records request. When AL.com, the largest digital news site in the state, published a story about the death which included the information she had requested, Shelburne asked Mays why she had responded to questions from that outlet but not to hers.</p><p data-block-key=\"71lcv\">“She responded that they had revised their media policy and the public affairs office would only respond to journalists with ‘accredited’ news organizations and those would be the only reporters on their press distribution list,” Shelburne told the Tracker. “I realized that this was retaliation for the critical op-ed I had published.”</p><p data-block-key=\"feab3\">The <a href=\"http://www.doc.state.al.us/docs/AdminRegs/AR005.pdf\">policy</a> Mays cited went into effect in October 2004 and describes “news media” as almost exclusively traditional and legacy media outlets — namely broadcast, radio and print outlets — and does not include any reference to freelance journalists or digital media outlets. The policy and definitions do not appear to have been revised since 2004.</p><p data-block-key=\"dfiho\">Mays and the ADOC press office did not respond to an emailed request for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"ea5hm\">Shelburne <a href=\"https://twitter.com/bshelburne/status/1182108886033154049\">tweeted</a> about her removal on Oct. 9, 2019, and included a screenshot of the email from Mays, which asserted that she was a member of the public, not a journalist.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I asked ADOC why they answered another reporter's questions but not mine. Hours later, they informed me that my questions are no longer good enough to be answered. In more than 2 decades of reporting, this has never happened. Transparency as clear as a mountain of bullshit. <a href=\"https://t.co/Bu3eyZPh8A\">pic.twitter.com/Bu3eyZPh8A</a></p>— Beth Shelburne (@bshelburne) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/bshelburne/status/1182108892710543360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 10, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"bbjm8\">“That was the tweet that kind of went viral and the next day I received a call from Gov. [Kay] Ivey’s press secretary and she told me that somebody from the Department of Corrections would be reaching out to me and that this would be remedied,” Shelburne said. “And in fact the commissioner of prisons called me and apologized.”</p><p data-block-key=\"c9a53\">Then-ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn told her that she had been removed in error and would be readded to the press list, Shelburne told the Tracker, and offered to meet with her for coffee.</p><p data-block-key=\"50ipd\">In a statement emailed to reporters on Oct. 10, Dunn reasserted the department’s commitment to transparency and said they were “resolving” Shelburne’s removal for the press list, WBRC <a href=\"https://www.wbrc.com/2019/10/10/alabama-department-corrections-we-will-remain-transparent/\">reported</a> at the time.</p><p data-block-key=\"578k4\">“The action of removing this person does not help us reach our ultimate goal of making Alabama safer and helping to cultivate an atmosphere within the system where both the inmates and correctional officers feel safe,” Dunn said. “The Alabama Department of Corrections is committed to working with all types of media and will continue working tirelessly to remain transparent and effective for the media and the public.”</p><p data-block-key=\"dkqff\">Shelburne told the Tracker that while her access was restored for a time, communications with Mays and other ADOC press officers were sluggish and their responses hostile. In emails shared with the Tracker, they criticized her reporting tips from incarcerated individuals and accused her of “misinformation” and “cherry-picking” information to further an agenda. By June 2020, both the ADOC and governor’s office had removed her from their press distribution lists and stopped responding to her requests entirely, Shelburne said.</p><p data-block-key=\"7dpif\">Shelburne said she’s now considering legal avenues for restoring her access.</p><p data-block-key=\"be5rd\">“It feels like nothing is going to change unless I sue,” Shelburne said. “You can’t block people’s access just because you don’t like what they’re saying because they are an opinion journalist or an op-ed writer.</p><p data-block-key=\"1942f\">“And a government agency can’t decide who is a real journalist or not.”</p></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "Alabama",
"abbreviation": "AL"
},
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"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [
"Law enforcement: State"
],
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"categories": [
"Denial of Access"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Beth Shelburne (Independent)"
],
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"Press credential or media list"
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},
{
"title": "CBP officer withholds journalist’s passport until he agrees to say he writes ‘propaganda’",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/cbp-officer-withholds-journalists-passport-until-he-agrees-to-say-he-writes-propaganda/",
"first_published_at": "2019-10-09T14:52:35.106536Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-02-05T19:07:58.594058Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-02-05T19:07:58.477520Z",
"date": "2019-10-03",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Dulles",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"46zhd\">Ben Watson, a news editor for Defense One, was harassed by a U.S. immigration official when arriving at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 3, 2019. At passport control, a Customs and Border Protection officer asked Watson four times, “You write propaganda, right?” The officer withheld Watson’s passport until he gave an affirmative answer.</p><p data-block-key=\"dwn9p\">Watson told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that things seemed normal as he passed through permanent resident reentry aisle No. 17 at around 4 p.m., though he noticed the CBP officer on duty was taking twice as long as normal with each customs interview.</p><p data-block-key=\"i5j0u\">In an <a href=\"https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/10/us-customs-officer-harasses-defense-one-journalist-dulles/160380/\">account</a> of the incident for Defense One, Watson wrote that after he answered a few standard questions about undeclared goods, the interaction took an unusual and unsettling turn.</p><p data-block-key=\"naqce\">After telling the officer that he is a journalist, the officer asked, “So you write propaganda, right?”</p><p data-block-key=\"gnnud\">Watson told the Tracker that at first he wasn’t sure the officer was serious. “When I saw this smirk on his face and with the way he was looking at me, I realized this was not a joke.”</p><p data-block-key=\"r6odz\">Watson responded no, that he was a journalist and that in his work covering national security he uses many of the same skills he used as a U.S. Army public affairs officer. “Some would argue, that’s propaganda,” Watson <a href=\"https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/10/us-customs-officer-harasses-defense-one-journalist-dulles/160380/\">recalled</a> saying.</p><p data-block-key=\"zr7j0\">The CBP officer persisted, asking a second time whether Watson is a journalist and asking again, “You write propaganda, right?”</p><p data-block-key=\"c2918\">Watson wrote that he paused briefly and then said, “For the purposes of expediting this conversation, yes.” Before returning his passport, the officer made Watson repeat for a second time that he, as a journalist, wrote propaganda.</p><p data-block-key=\"0qng1\">Watson told the Tracker that he gave in when he thought about how long he could be delayed if he called for the officer’s supervisor and filed a complaint in person. He said, however, that he has since filed a civil rights complaint with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.</p><p data-block-key=\"df099\">In a <a href=\"https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2019/10/us-customs-officer-harasses-defense-one-journalist-dulles/160380/\">statement</a> to Defense One, a DHS spokesperson said the CRCL office has received Watson’s complaint and is reviewing it. A spokesperson for CBP also provided an emailed statement to Defense One, stating that the agency is aware of and is investigating the reports of an officer’s alleged inappropriate conduct.</p><p data-block-key=\"0k94s\">Watson <a href=\"https://twitter.com/natsecwatson/status/1180176357701103617\">tweeted</a> after the incident, “I’ve honestly never had a human attempt to provoke me like this before in my life.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">What I told my colleagues shortly afterward:<br><br>"I've honestly never had a human attempt to provoke me like this before in my life.<br>This behavior is totally normal now, I guess?" <a href=\"https://t.co/9qV5xRWVMr\">https://t.co/9qV5xRWVMr</a></p>— Ben Watson (@natsecwatson) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/natsecwatson/status/1180176357701103617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 4, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"hnt26\">Walter Shaub, an attorney who served as director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics until 2017, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1180189374656499714\">tweeted</a> that the incident should go to the DHS inspector general for review.</p><p data-block-key=\"wo68o\">“A customs agent withholding the passport of a journalist until he agrees to say he writes ‘propaganda’ is actionable misconduct, even in Trump’s America,” Shaub wrote.</p><p data-block-key=\"0h6o9\">Watson’s is the latest incident of politicized remarks by CBP agents aimed at journalists that the Tracker has documented in our <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/border-stop/\">border stop category</a>. Other recent cases include a journalist being asked if <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/cbp-agent-asks-british-journalist-entering-us-if-hes-part-of-the-fake-news-media/\">he was part of the “fake news media,”</a> two journalists being <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-journalists-asked-about-political-views-by-cbp-told-to-fall-in-line/\">told to “fall in line”</a> with the president’s agenda, and aggressive questioning to a reporter <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/buzzfeed-news-reporter-aggressively-questioned-about-reporting-passport-checkpoint/\">about his outlet’s political articles</a>.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ihj2l\">International passengers arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport after clearing immigration and customs in Dulles, Virginia in this 2017 file photo.</p>",
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"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
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"state": {
"name": "Virginia",
"abbreviation": "VA"
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},
{
"title": "NYT report: U.S. Ambassador to Hungary asked Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to circumvent critical reporting of Hungarian government",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nyt-report-us-ambassador-to-hungary-asked-radio-free-europeradio-liberty-to-circumvent-critical-reporting-of-hungarian-government/",
"first_published_at": "2021-03-24T17:25:46.795029Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-04-06T17:25:36.448356Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-04-06T17:25:36.395950Z",
"date": "2019-09-26",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Budapest",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"x9gko\">David Cornstein, who served as United States Ambassador to Hungary from 2018 to 2020, reportedly contacted the federally-funded U.S. Agency for Global Media in 2019 asking that its media services avoid negative reporting about Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, according to a New York Times <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/world/europe/radio-free-europe-hungary-orban.html\">report</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"cze6a\">“The United States International Broadcasting Act <a href=\"https://pressroom.rferl.org/frequently-asked-questions#firewall\">prohibits American government officials</a>, including Mr. Cornstein, from interfering in Radio Free Europe’s reporting,” the Times reported on Sept. 6. 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"f252f\">Following the report, eight U.S. senators addressed an<a href=\"https://www.durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Sept25CornsteinHungaryLetter.pdf\"> open letter</a> to Cornstein seeking to confirm the Times account. No response from Cornstein has been made public, and Sen. Dick Durbin’s office, which posted the letter on the senator’s website, did not respond to a request from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker for information.</p><p data-block-key=\"njbhe\">Cornstein’s reported request came as the USAGM, an independent federal agency that oversees five state-run broadcasting networks, was preparing for a May 2020 relaunch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Hungary. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is funded by the U.S. government, with a mandate to promote democratic values in countries where a free press is banned or not fully established.</p><p data-block-key=\"odsd5\">According to the Times <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/world/europe/radio-free-europe-hungary-orban.html\">report</a>, unnamed U.S. officials told the paper that while Cornstein was still serving as ambassador, he “sought assurances from the agency that its service would not focus on negative stories about the Hungarian government, or investigative journalism, and that it would not undermine his efforts as ambassador.”</p><p data-block-key=\"baxnz\">USAGM’s CEO and Director John Lansing told the Times, “It’s literally illegal for the U.S. government to interfere in our editorial independence.”</p><p data-block-key=\"nmt5i\">The United States International Broadcasting Act 1994, enacted to streamline the U.S. international media, prohibits U.S. government officials from interfering in Radio Free Europe’s reporting.</p><p data-block-key=\"ek959\">In a reply on the matter, Cornstein told the Times, “In general we do not comment on private discussions. That said, I remain as committed today as I was when I made clear during my Senate confirmation hearing, that as ambassador I am committed to promoting American and democratic values, including the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press.”</p><p data-block-key=\"nji1a\">Cornstein, who was appointed to the post in Budapest by President Donald Trump in June 2018, enjoyed a close relationship with Orban, who has been heavily criticized by pro-democracy and human rights groups for cracking down on freedoms.</p><p data-block-key=\"lv64h\">According to a 2019 <a href=\"https://ipi.media/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Hungary-Conclusions-International-Mission-Final.pdf\">report</a> by leading international press freedom groups following their joint mission to Hungary, Orban’s government has dismantled media freedoms, using techniques such as systematic government takeovers of independent media. Freedom House, a U.S.-based democracy watchdog organization, downgraded Hungary from “free” to “partly free” in 2019 in its annual Freedom of the World <a href=\"https://freedomhouse.org/country/hungary/freedom-world/2020\">report</a>, citing Orban’s increasing control on the country’s independent institutions.</p><p data-block-key=\"dmr69\">Despite the concerns of Freedom House and others, Cornstein lobbied to help Orban get a White House meeting in 2019, where President Trump praised him, saying, “Viktor Orban has done a tremendous job in so many different ways.”</p><p data-block-key=\"8twho\">The <a href=\"https://www.szabadeuropa.hu/\">Hungarian service of RFE/RL</a> relaunched on Sep. 8, 2020. “We are very excited to return to Hungary with state-of-the art programming and RFE/RL’s signature commitment to serving the public interest by reporting the issues that our audiences say matter most,” said RFE/RL acting President Daisy Sindelar.</p></div>",
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{
"title": "Army soldier indicted for disclosing bomb-making techniques mentioned news media as targets",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/army-soldier-indicted-disclosing-bomb-making-techniques-mentioned-news-media-targets/",
"first_published_at": "2019-10-15T13:39:22.838152Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T19:50:21.421471Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T19:50:21.348855Z",
"date": "2019-09-21",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Fort Riley",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"lal9c\">A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, was arrested on Sept. 21, 2019, on allegations that he distributed information online about making explosives and discussed attacking multiple targets, including a local news station and a major American news network.</p><p data-block-key=\"wsafd\">According to the <a href=\"https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6427168/9-23-19-US-v-Smith-Complaint.pdf\">criminal complaint</a>, Jarrett William Smith, 24, engaged in conversations on multiple platforms about his desire to join a violent far-right paramilitary group in Ukraine, about killing members of the anti-fascist group known as antifa and about techniques for building bombs and other explosives.</p><p data-block-key=\"6wvjn\">In an Aug. 19 conversation in an online chat group, Smith told a confidential FBI source about his plans for domestic terrorism, including killing members of antifa and destroying nearby cell towers or a local news station. In a conversation with the confidential source a few days later, Smith gave the headquarters of a major American news network as a potential target, describing how a car bomb could be used.</p><p data-block-key=\"xnl2i\">While the network was not named in the affidavit, two unnamed <a href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/23/politics/army-private-arrested-bombs/index.html?no-st=1569377844\">sources told CNN</a> that it was the CNN headquarters in New York that was targeted.</p><p data-block-key=\"tm7r8\">In the criminal complaint, FBI Special Agent Brandon LaMar wrote, “[Smith] admitted that he provides this information even to individuals who tell him they intend to use the information to cause harm to others.” According to LaMar, Smith said he does so to cause “chaos.”</p><p data-block-key=\"ofa5y\">Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 25, and charged with two counts of distributing explosives information and a third alleging he sent interstate threats about setting the home of an antifa member on fire.</p><p data-block-key=\"d2ubw\">Smith pleaded not guilty to the charges during a hearing on Sept. 26, The Associated Press <a href=\"https://www.apnews.com/1f2e43cd2e2e40a3848058bfdd2029ac\">reported</a>, and a federal magistrate ordered him detained until his trial. He faces 45 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both if convicted on all three counts, <a href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6431405-Jarrett-William-Smith-indictment-September-2019.html\">according to the indictment</a>.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/RTS298K9.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"2nc8k\">CNN’s New York headquarters, housed in the Time Warner building in Manhattan, was reported to be a target of a U.S. Army soldier who was indicted for distributing information about explosives.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Kansas",
"abbreviation": "KS"
},
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"targeted_institutions": [
"CNN"
],
"tags": [
"bomb / bomb threat"
],
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"categories": [
"Other Incident"
],
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}
]
