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{
"title": "Sheriff’s Department targets LA Times reporter in criminal leak investigation, then backtracks",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/sheriffs-department-targets-la-times-reporter-in-criminal-leak-investigation-then-backtracks/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-28T19:11:22.311256Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-08-07T14:30:32.745374Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-08-07T14:30:32.634165Z",
"date": "2022-04-26",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Los Angeles",
"longitude": -118.24368,
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"eby8p\">Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva announced that Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian was under a criminal leak investigation during a <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj-FLxsIkOY&t=798s\">press conference</a> on April 26, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"1f0co\">The statement came nearly a month after <a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-03-25/sheriff-deputy-force-coverup\">Tchekmedyian first reported on internal documents</a> detailing an alleged cover-up within the sheriff's department around an inmate abuse case. During the press conference, Villanueva displayed a picture of Tchekmedyian and two other individuals, saying all three were connected to the leak.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LACoSheriff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LACoSheriff</a> Alex Villanueva held a press conference to discuss a recent lawsuit by a disgruntled employee. To read the press release and view the video and materials used, click the following link <a href=\"https://t.co/gFBDoqk9ZL\">https://t.co/gFBDoqk9ZL</a></p>— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LASDHQ/status/1519124966821679104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2022</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=\"eby8p\">When pressed to say whether Tchekmedyian was specifically under criminal investigation, Villanueva responded that Tchekmedyian received information and put it to use. “What she receives legally and puts to her own use and what she receives legally and the L.A. Times uses — I'm sure that's a huge, complex level of law and freedom of the press and all that. However, when it's stolen materials, at some point, you actually become part of the story. So, that's up to the L.A. Times to decide that.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6r1m3\">Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida immediately condemned Villanueva's comments in a statement to the outlet.</p><p data-block-key=\"cq8uq\">“His attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law. We will vigorously defend Tchekmedyian's and the Los Angeles Times' right in any proceeding or investigation brought by authorities,” Merida said.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The sheriff’s attack on reporter <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AleneTchek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AleneTchek</a> drew immediate condemnation from the newspaper.<br><br>“His attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law,” said <a href=\"https://twitter.com/meridak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@meridak</a>, executive editor of The Times, in a statement. <a href=\"https://t.co/ZDmiTaktrG\">https://t.co/ZDmiTaktrG</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/yiJPDWGNUd\">pic.twitter.com/yiJPDWGNUd</a></p>— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1519068136946880513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2022</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=\"eby8p\">Times’ General Counsel Jeff Glaser <a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-04-26/l-a-times-protests-sheriffs-criminal-leak-investigation-against-reporter\">published a letter of protest</a>, warning Villaneuva that any attempt to prosecute the reporter would be “an abuse of your official position,” and the outlet would “seek every available remedy against you, the Department, and every individual official involved in any such unlawful conduct.”</p><p data-block-key=\"44sa4\">The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press also condemned Villanueva's comments, calling it “blatantly retaliatory conduct.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3m4dk\">“Publishing newsworthy information about an alleged law enforcement cover up that sought to block an investigation into the use of excessive force is constitutionally protected activity, and clearly in the public interest,” said Katie Townsend, RCFP’s Deputy Executive Director and Legal Director.</p><p data-block-key=\"99vu5\">Hours after the press conference, Villanueva <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LACoSheriff/status/1519130928915787776\">addressed</a> the public outcry in response to his comments.</p><p data-block-key=\"tbr9\">“Resulting from the incredible frenzy of misinformation being circulated, I must clarify at no time today did I state an LA Times reporter was a suspect in a criminal investigation. We have no interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, criminal charges against any reporters.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">(1/3) Resulting from the incredible frenzy of misinformation being circulated, I must clarify at no time today did I state an LA Times reporter was a suspect in a criminal investigation. We have no interest in pursuing, nor are we pursuing, criminal charges against any reporters. <a href=\"https://t.co/43Ro4kK8HM\">pic.twitter.com/43Ro4kK8HM</a></p>— Alex Villanueva (@LACoSheriff) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LACoSheriff/status/1519130928915787776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2022</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=\"eby8p\">Villanueva also wrote that the sheriff's department would conduct a thorough investigation around the disclosure of evidence.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"4t1oe\">LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva indicated LA Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian was part of a criminal leak investigation during an April 26, 2022, press conference for her reporting. He later called it ‘misinformation’.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "California",
"abbreviation": "CA"
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"Alene Tchekmedyian (Los Angeles Times)"
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{
"title": "Denver Gazette barred from publishing article based on mistakenly released documents",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/denver-gazette-barred-from-publishing-article-based-on-mistakenly-released-documents/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-29T14:10:08.048915Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-21T20:17:47.852648Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-21T20:17:47.761311Z",
"date": "2022-04-25",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Brighton",
"longitude": -104.82053,
"latitude": 39.98526,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"t4jvw\">A judge issued an order on April 25, 2022, barring The Denver Gazette from publishing an article based on court documents that were mistakenly released to reporter Julia Cardi. The outlet’s attorney has filed a motion asking the judge to vacate the order, arguing that it is unconstitutional.</p><p data-block-key=\"1gre7\">According to the newspaper’s <a href=\"https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/denvergazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/66/c66f3426-c65b-11ec-ae2c-7bd9fc340099/6269929d30de2.pdf.pdf\">motion</a>, on April 14 Cardi requested a number of recent public filings in the cases of each of the police officers and paramedics charged in connection with the the death of Elijah McClain in August 2019. The clerk at the Adams County Courthouse provided her a stack of documents that included filings in the case of former Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard, which a judge had sealed from public access.</p><p data-block-key=\"a8u2q\">Cardi <a href=\"https://twitter.com/juliawhitsett23/status/1519400701444636673\">wrote</a> on Twitter that she notified the Attorney General’s office on the morning of April 25 that the Gazette would be publishing an article based on the mistakenly disclosed records. By that afternoon, she wrote, she received the order barring them from moving forward with the piece and telling her to destroy any copies of the documents.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A few weeks ago I went to the clerk’s office in the Adams County courthouse and asked for recent public filings in the cases of each of the police officers and paramedics charged in connection with Elijah’s death, since a hearing was scheduled the next day.</p>— Julia Whitsett (@juliawhitsett23) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/juliawhitsett23/status/1519400701444636673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 27, 2022</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=\"t4jvw\">“So now we fight for our right to publish information that is in the public’s interest to know,” Cardi <a href=\"https://twitter.com/juliawhitsett23/status/1519400701444636673\">wrote</a>. “I have to admit the version of me at 9 a.m. on Monday had no idea what this situation would turn into. But all we can do now is put up the best fight we can.”</p><p data-block-key=\"d2h3t\">Neither Cardi nor the Gazette respond to requests for further comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"2mf1i\">District Court Judge Priscilla Loew, who issued the <a href=\"https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/denvergazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/30/630de948-c65d-11ec-9799-d780282892a1/6269952d67160.pdf.pdf\">protective order</a>, wrote that the disclosure of these materials to the public would threaten grand jury secrecy and the defendant’s right to a fair trial and impartial jury.</p><p data-block-key=\"eptle\">Gazette attorney Steven Zansberg filed a <a href=\"https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/denvergazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/66/c66f3426-c65b-11ec-ae2c-7bd9fc340099/6269929d30de2.pdf.pdf\">motion to lift the gag order</a> on April 26, stating that Cardi obtained the documents lawfully and that barring the newspaper from publishing information of legitimate public concern violates its First Amendment rights.</p><p data-block-key=\"3ckel\">Zansberg told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that Loew ordered all parties to respond to the newspaper’s motion by April 28, and he said he expects a hearing to be set shortly.</p><p data-block-key=\"dsa1o\">“The judge’s order demanding the parties to file responses by noon [on April 28] said that the court agrees that this was a matter of utmost importance and needed to be resolved quickly,” Zansberg said. “It is a big deal, there’s nothing worse. And that’s what the Supreme Court says about prior restraints: They are the least tolerable and most objectionable form of censorship.”</p><p data-block-key=\"4s8e3\">Zansberg noted that the response from the former police officer in the matter, Woodyard, also asserted that the prior restraint was unconstitutional and should be lifted. The Tracker was unable to access that filing as of publication.</p><p data-block-key=\"ae09r\">The Attorney General’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Cardi_prior_restraint.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"lwpr9\">A portion of the order barring The Denver Gazette from publishing information obtained from mistakenly released court documents related to the trial of a former police officer.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Colorado",
"abbreviation": "CO"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-04-28 19:07:00+00:00) Judge lifts gag order on Denver Gazette article based on mistakenly released documents"
],
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"tags": [
"Black Lives Matter"
],
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"categories": [
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{
"title": "Social media journalist arrested during San Clemente protest, held overnight",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/social-media-journalist-arrested-during-san-clemente-protest-held-overnight/",
"first_published_at": "2022-05-19T19:51:34.040791Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-08-03T14:32:27.113726Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-08-03T14:32:26.984869Z",
"date": "2022-04-23",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "San Clemente",
"longitude": -117.61199,
"latitude": 33.42697,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"nbcd0\">Los Angeles-based independent photojournalist Jessica Rogers, who said she shares her work through social media, was arrested and charged with ignoring police orders while documenting protests in San Clemente, California, on April 23, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"funss\">The protest was held in remembrance of Kurt Reinhold, a homeless Black man who was fatally shot by Orange County Deputies after jaywalking in front of a hotel in September 2020. According to police, 30-45 individuals had gathered to participate in the demonstration.</p><p data-block-key=\"36e1u\">Rogers told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker she was photographing the march as it advanced toward City Hall, where participants paused to kneel for a moment of silence. As she was taking photos from the curb at about 3:45 p.m, Rogers said multiple deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office came forward and placed her under arrest.</p><p data-block-key=\"b1eca\">“I immediately said, ‘I am press, here’s my press badge, I am a photographer,’” Rogers told the Tracker, referring to her National Press Photographers Association press badge. “And they told me I was being arrested for being in the street, which later I found out is not true because they are trying to charge me with resisting arrest.”</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">At 3:45pm on a Saturday I was targeted/arrested by OCSD while photographing the Kurt Reinhold action in San Clemente. While taking photos a large group of sheriffs came into the crowd, grabbed, & arrested me. My <a href=\"https://twitter.com/NPPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@NPPA</a> press badge was in plain sight & I verbally stated I was press <a href=\"https://t.co/zBYMmH7g13\">pic.twitter.com/zBYMmH7g13</a></p>— Jessica (@jessrayerogers) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/jessrayerogers/status/1518258211018530817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 24, 2022</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=\"jxjnt\">Sgt. Scott Steinle, a public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, clarified that both Rogers and a second individual who was taking photographs, Juan Gomez, were charged under <a href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=148.&lawCode=PEN\">California Penal Code 148 (A)(1)</a>. The law criminalizes willfully resisting, delaying or obstructing a public officer.</p><p data-block-key=\"16mb3\">“They went out into the public roadway somewhere between four and six different times. Each time, Sheriff’s Department personnel contacted these two individuals who were told to return to the sidewalk area,” Steinle said, noting that that area has a 45-mile per hour speed limit.</p><p data-block-key=\"caiel\">Steinle also refuted assertions that the pair were targeted because they were documenting the protest.</p><p data-block-key=\"dcs62\">“As a member of the press you are supposed to be performing your duties in a responsible manner, and it’s completely irresponsible when you’re told by law enforcement that you are causing a hazard and putting yourself in a hazardous situation to continue to do so,” Steinle said. “They were told numerous times and subsequently they forced our hand and we had to make an arrest.”</p><p data-block-key=\"fej05\">Before transporting her to a staging location nearby, Rogers said deputies allowed her to hand off her camera and cellphone to one of the protest organizers. Once she was taken to a law enforcement facility in Santa Ana, Rogers told the Tracker she was transferred in and out of multiple cells, repeatedly questioned about why she was arrested and denied water or access to a working phone for more than 13 hours.</p><p data-block-key=\"7i975\">“I shut down,” she said. “I realized that they can and will do whatever they want to me in there.”</p><p data-block-key=\"aqup8\">Rogers said she was released the following morning at 5:15 a.m. Rogers said her release paperwork orders her to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 22, but her online arrest record lists her next appearance date as May 23. She said she is unsure of the reason behind the discrepancy. If convicted, she faces a fine of up to $1,000, one year in jail or both.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"f7qeg\">Orange County Sheriff’s deputies detain social media journalist Jessica Rogers at a demonstration in remembrance of Kurt Reinhold, a homeless Black man killed by police, in San Clemente, California, on April 23, 2022.</p>",
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"(2023-03-30 16:39:00+00:00) Charge dropped against LA journalist who was documenting protest"
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{
"title": "WOIO photojournalist assaulted while covering police standoff",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/woio-photojournalist-assaulted-while-covering-police-standoff/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-27T18:30:48.340088Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-04-27T18:35:44.368534Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-04-27T18:35:44.299780Z",
"date": "2022-04-22",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Cleveland",
"longitude": -81.69541,
"latitude": 41.4995,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"v2jre\">An unidentified photojournalist with WOIO 19 News was assaulted by individuals while covering an arrest in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 22, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"7ifh8\">WOIO <a href=\"https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/04/22/cleveland-police-seek-identify-men-seen-viral-video-pointing-guns-officer/\">reported</a> that one of its news crews was reporting on a tense standoff in Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood connected to a viral video of two men pointing guns at a police officer.</p><p data-block-key=\"7bg28\">Investigative reporter Kelly Kennedy said in a <a href=\"https://ms-my.facebook.com/kellyekennedytv/videos/cleveland-police-arrested-a-man-suspected-to-be-in-a-viral-video-pointing-a-gun-/684172679512338/\">report for the outlet</a> that a few nearby residents were angry that there were journalists filming.</p><p data-block-key=\"4o6b2\">“When we got to the scene, some neighbors were really angry when they saw our cameras and one man actually tried to grab one of our photographers’ cameras and then he actually knocked over another TV station’s camera and broke it,” Kennedy said.</p><p data-block-key=\"emsi0\">Kennedy reported that the police then handcuffed the man. “So, it was a kind of scary situation out there — that’s kind of what you have to go through sometimes in the field,” she said.</p><p data-block-key=\"8ccbv\">Neither WOIO nor Kennedy responded to emailed requests for additional comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"6qjpq\">Kennedy <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KellyEKennedyTV/status/1517678731183206401\">wrote</a> on Twitter that everyone was okay, and that the incident was just one example of the kind of harassment journalists face daily when just trying to do their jobs.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is just one example of the kind of harassment we face day after day as journalists just for doing our jobs. Thankfully everyone was okay, but it was definitely a scary situation. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/cleveland19news?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@cleveland19news</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/PBuIscEena\">pic.twitter.com/PBuIscEena</a></p>— Kelly Kennedy (@KellyEKennedyTV) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KellyEKennedyTV/status/1517678731183206401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 23, 2022</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=\"v2jre\">A police report identified that photojournalist as WKYC 3 Studios’ Craig Roberson; the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented his equipment damage <a href=\"/all-incidents/wkyc-photojournalists-camera-damaged-while-covering-police-standoff/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"ff54g\">According to the police report released to the Tracker, the man was charged with <a href=\"https://casetext.com/statute/ohio-revised-code/title-29-crimes-procedure/chapter-2909-arson-and-related-offenses/section-290905-vandalism\">felony vandalism</a> for damaging the $9,000 WKYC camera, which is punishable by 6 to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Cleveland_equip_damage.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"i4nge\">A screenshot from a WOIO report shows two men harassing another photojournalist attempting to document a police standoff in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 22, 2022. One of the men later assaulted a WOIO photojournalist.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
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"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
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"actor": null,
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"denial_of_entry": false,
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"did_authorities_ask_about_work": null,
"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Ohio",
"abbreviation": "OH"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Unidentified photojournalist 22 (WOIO)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "WKYC photojournalist’s camera damaged while covering police standoff",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/wkyc-photojournalists-camera-damaged-while-covering-police-standoff/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-27T18:35:08.819726Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-03T20:14:22.285160Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-10-03T20:14:21.877492Z",
"date": "2022-04-22",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Cleveland",
"longitude": -81.69541,
"latitude": 41.4995,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"uiyrx\">WKYC 3 Studios photojournalist Craig Roberson was harassed by individuals and his camera damaged while covering an arrest in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 22, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"benfc\">WOIO 19 News <a href=\"https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/04/22/cleveland-police-seek-identify-men-seen-viral-video-pointing-guns-officer/\">reported</a> that journalists from multiple broadcast stations were covering a tense standoff in Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood connected to a viral video of two men pointing guns at a police officer.</p><p data-block-key=\"4vo34\">Kelly Kennedy, an investigative reporter with the WOIO team on scene, said in a <a href=\"https://ms-my.facebook.com/kellyekennedytv/videos/cleveland-police-arrested-a-man-suspected-to-be-in-a-viral-video-pointing-a-gun-/684172679512338/\">report for the outlet</a> that a few nearby residents were angry that there were journalists filming.</p><p data-block-key=\"8s775\">“When we got to the scene, some neighbors were really angry when they saw our cameras and one man actually tried to grab one of our photographers’ cameras and then he actually knocked over another TV station’s camera and broke it,” Kennedy said, referring to Roberson’s equipment.</p><p data-block-key=\"50cqn\">According to the police report, the $9,000 WKYC camera was destroyed and broken into multiple pieces. The man was charged with <a href=\"https://casetext.com/statute/ohio-revised-code/title-29-crimes-procedure/chapter-2909-arson-and-related-offenses/section-290905-vandalism\">felony vandalism</a>, punishable by 6 to 18 months in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.</p><p data-block-key=\"5gjpt\">When reached for comment, WKYC President and General Manager Micki Byrnes confirmed that Roberson’s camera was damaged and that he was unharmed; Roberson did not respond to an emailed request for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"b1sbl\">WOIO’s Kennedy <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KellyEKennedyTV/status/1517678731183206401\">wrote</a> on Twitter that everyone was OK, and that the incident was just one example of the kind of harassment journalists face daily when just trying to do their jobs.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is just one example of the kind of harassment we face day after day as journalists just for doing our jobs. Thankfully everyone was okay, but it was definitely a scary situation. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/cleveland19news?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@cleveland19news</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/PBuIscEena\">pic.twitter.com/PBuIscEena</a></p>— Kelly Kennedy (@KellyEKennedyTV) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KellyEKennedyTV/status/1517678731183206401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 23, 2022</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=\"uiyrx\">The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented the WOIO assault <a href=\"/all-incidents/woio-photojournalist-assaulted-while-covering-police-standoff/\">here</a>.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Cleveland_ED.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"0vqe7\">A screenshot from a WOIO report on April 22, 2022, shows a photojournalist looking on after an individual threw his camera equipment to the ground in Cleveland, Ohio.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"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,
"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": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "Ohio",
"abbreviation": "OH"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-08-31 00:00:00+00:00) Cleveland man who broke photojournalist’s camera ordered into treatment"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Craig Roberson (WKYC)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Reporter assaulted in Detroit by contractor profiled in news segment",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-assaulted-in-detroit-by-contractor-profiled-in-news-segment/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-26T20:35:09.115243Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-18T15:07:42.222840Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-10-18T15:07:42.099825Z",
"date": "2022-04-19",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Detroit",
"longitude": -83.04575,
"latitude": 42.33143,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"md3wo\">Rob Wolchek, an investigative reporter for Fox 2 News, was assaulted on April 19, 2022, while on assignment in Detroit, Michigan.</p><p data-block-key=\"bhp77\">Wolchek told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker he often profiles bad contractors for his "Hall of Shame" segment, and had featured fence contractor Seth Chuhran in a 2020 segment after he was arrested for allegedly failing to build fences for paying customers.</p><p data-block-key=\"e8cg7\"><a href=\"https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/faux-fence-guy-is-a-real-hot-head\">Fox 2 News video</a> of the incident shows Chuhran leaving a police station before assaulting Wolchek. Wolchek said he happened to be at the police station to interview a detective working on Chuhran's case when he saw him arrive at the police station.</p><p data-block-key=\"dsean\">"We saw [Chuhran] drive up to the station and thought, ’OK, let's try to talk to him when he comes out,’" Wolchek said.</p><p data-block-key=\"32pf2\">The video shows Wolchek holding a microphone and attempting to ask him questions before Chuhran walks toward him and swings at the microphone.</p><p data-block-key=\"90gd4\">Wolchek said he has been reporting on Chuhran, who has been arrested more than six times, for nearly two years.</p><p data-block-key=\"c5pls\">Wolchek said that he felt safe trying to interview Chuhran in front of the police station but was not aware officers had witnessed the incident and did not expect Chuhran to get arrested.</p><p data-block-key=\"mvvs\">"I've been doing this a long time, and it's not that unusual, particularly after these guys who are exposed and put on the news to retaliate with aggression when they see me again," Wolchek said.</p><p data-block-key=\"ah62i\">Wolchek filed a police report, and Chuhran was charged with assault and battery under a city ordinance. He said the microphone was not damaged.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": null,
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
"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": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Michigan",
"abbreviation": "MI"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-06-21 00:00:00+00:00) Man who attacked reporter trying to interview him sentenced to probation and a fine"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Rob Wolchek (WJBK)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Daily Beast editor says arrest was in retaliation for his reporting",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/daily-beast-editor-says-arrest-was-in-retaliation-for-his-reporting/",
"first_published_at": "2022-09-07T20:48:26.318626Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-03T21:14:09.843959Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-03T21:14:09.711773Z",
"date": "2022-04-17",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"glda1\">Lachlan Cartwright, an editor-at-large for The Daily Beast, was arrested and charged with trespassing on April 17, 2022, while at a store in New York City.</p><p data-block-key=\"fapbl\">Cartwright told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he was charged as a form of payback following an <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/police-aggressively-seized-journalists-press-pass-amid-manhattan-protest/\">adversarial interaction</a> he had with a New York Police Department officer while covering a protest in 2020. On Aug. 23, his attorney <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.585204/gov.uscourts.nysd.585204.1.0.pdf\">filed a lawsuit</a> on his behalf against the city and 10 NYPD officers.</p><p data-block-key=\"j3sm\">Cartwright said he entered a storefront in Lower Manhattan at around noon on April 17 to buy gifts for his sister. When he noticed that there were no employees in the store, he attempted to reach managers, messaging the store through Instagram and calling its sister store in Florida.</p><p data-block-key=\"64apb\">The manager of the sister store told him that the shop’s manager would be coming in, and Cartwright said he offered to wait around as long as he could. After around 10 minutes — approximately 40 minutes since he had first walked into the store — Cartwright said he left a note with the items he wanted to purchase and went to leave. That’s when he noticed the sirens.</p><p data-block-key=\"9126k\">NYPD officers then entered the store, approached Cartwright and placed him under arrest.</p><p data-block-key=\"6drb8\">“I consistently and repeatedly told them what had happened and the fact that if they’d just check the note, the security camera and talk to the store, this would all be resolved,” Cartwright told the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"fgkmo\">Officers transported Cartwright to the NYPD’s 6th Precinct, eventually allowing him to call his editor at The Daily Beast. A few hours later, an officer asked whether he had his NYPD press credentials. Cartwright told the Tracker that since he had stopped covering events that would necessitate it, he had not gone through the process of renewing it for at least a year.</p><p data-block-key=\"4h9nu\">Cartwright told the Tracker that when he asked what was going on, one of his arresting officers told him that he had been speaking with the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner for Public Information’s Office and that, “They know who you are.”</p><p data-block-key=\"7epci\">A short while later, Cartwright said one of the officers stepped out of the room to speak with someone. When the officer returned, he told Cartwright that while his story had checked out, they were still charging him with criminal trespass in the third degree.</p><p data-block-key=\"a0qqg\">“I broke down crying. I was just in such a state of shock that this was going on and just absolutely baffled as to how they could carry out an investigation and tell me that I did nothing wrong but then charge me with something,” he told the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"87v59\">Approximately three to four hours after he was placed under arrest, Cartwright was released with a citation and orders to appear before a judge. The Office of the District Attorney for New York County declined to prosecute the charge against the editor on April 21.</p><p data-block-key=\"fehtq\">Cartwright said that both he and one of his colleagues at The Daily Beast spoke with sources at the department who confirmed that the DCPI did not like him, referencing an <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/police-aggressively-seized-journalists-press-pass-amid-manhattan-protest/\">interaction he had with officers</a> while covering a Black Lives Matter protest in Union Square Park in May 2020.</p><p data-block-key=\"7ger3\">The DCPI did not respond to emails requesting comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"hqv8\">National Lawyers Guild attorney Gideon Orion Oliver filed a notice of claim on Cartwright’s behalf on July 15, 2022, and the <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.585204/gov.uscourts.nysd.585204.1.0.pdf\">lawsuit</a> against the city of New York and multiple police officers on Aug. 23.</p><p data-block-key=\"1i6bj\">“I want to find out exactly what was happening that day behind the scenes because it’s not just a suspicion that this was payback or retribution against me for basically journalism: We have it from two different sources that it was,” Cartwright told the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"698f6\">Oliver told the Tracker that the case will go through mediation before reaching discovery, but they hope to identify the DCPI officer or officers who communicated about Cartwright while he was in custody and the extent to which that influenced the decision to charge him. He added that while they hope to speak with the officers themselves, he could not rule out the possibility of calling on Cartwright’s colleague to testify.</p><p data-block-key=\"92vh9\">The Tracker was unable to independently corroborate Cartwright’s assertion that the charges against him were specifically in retaliation for the May 2020 incident.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": null,
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": "1:22-cv-07198",
"case_type": "CIVIL",
"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": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": null,
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
"updates": [
"(2023-08-15 00:00:00+00:00) Journalist settles civil rights suit against NYPD"
],
"case_statuses": [
"settled"
],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Other Incident"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Lachlan Cartwright (The Daily Beast)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Two Occupy Democrats journalists removed from press conference with Florida governor",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-occupy-democrats-journalists-removed-from-press-conference-with-florida-governor/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-22T16:17:52.742796Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-20T20:54:41.344765Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-20T20:54:41.217336Z",
"date": "2022-04-12",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Miami",
"longitude": -80.19366,
"latitude": 25.77427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ro3e3\">Two journalists with the news arm of progressive political organization Occupy Democrats were forcibly removed from a press conference at Miami Dade College in downtown Miami, Florida, on April 12, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"da4ol\">Executive Editor Grant Stern told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he and Reported Opinion Columnist Thomas Kennedy were alerted to a press conference with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñes via email from the governor’s press office. Stern said both he and Kennedy sent emails confirming that they would attend the press conference, but received no response. Stern told the Tracker that due to Kennedy’s activist activities prior to his work for Occupy Democrats, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement compiled a dossier on Kennedy and his known associates in 2020 and functionally blacklisted him from attending the governor’s press conferences.</p><p data-block-key=\"cpk5b\">When reached for comment, Kennedy said that politicians in Florida too often pick and choose which press to engage with, and that his emails to RSVP for press conferences are routinely ignored.</p><p data-block-key=\"30j6k\">“Then, when we get [to the press conference] they tell us we’re not on the list or we haven’t gone through the proper credentialing. They could say ‘no,’ which I think is unfair and selective, especially when it’s not a campaign event, but they don’t even bother to do that,” Kennedy said.</p><p data-block-key=\"2an1f\">When the pair arrived on April 12, they were directed to the media area at the back of the room alongside other members of the press.</p><p data-block-key=\"64un4\">Before the event began, DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, approached the press area with other staff members and multiple law enforcement officers. In footage <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MarcACaputo/status/1513892830325977093\">shared on Twitter</a> by NBC reporter Marc Caputo, another woman can be seen approaching Kennedy and asking him whether he is a member of the press; Kennedy responds that he is.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">As with other Miami pressers, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GovRonDeSantis</a> kicks his off with the customary removal of <a href=\"https://twitter.com/tomaskenn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@tomaskenn</a> & <a href=\"https://twitter.com/grantstern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@grantstern</a> <br><br>Here’s Tomas<br>1/2 <a href=\"https://t.co/v8cjHQK2ml\">pic.twitter.com/v8cjHQK2ml</a></p>— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MarcACaputo/status/1513892830325977093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 12, 2022</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=\"ro3e3\">The woman says that Kennedy isn’t on their RSVP list and that because he did not go through their screening process he must step out of the room. At least three police officers then roughly guide Kennedy out of the room as he voices a question for DeSantis.</p><p data-block-key=\"2fi1q\">In <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BiancaJoanie/status/1513892655675101189\">footage</a> posted by Miami Herald reporter Bianca Padró Ocasio, Pushaw can be seen pointing out Stern to a man who appears to also be acting as security for the event as Kennedy is led away. Moments later Stern is directed to leave the press conference as well.</p><p data-block-key=\"f6gm8\">“Do you suspect me of committing a crime?” Stern <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BiancaJoanie/status/1513893064057761795\">can be heard asking</a> an officer before walking out of the room. “I sent an RSVP, I am a member of the press: I am an editor of a national publication called Occupy Democrats.”</p><p data-block-key=\"8te52\">Stern told the Tracker he asked the officers for the names and badge numbers before the pair left to <a href=\"https://occupydemocrats.com/2022/04/12/video-florida-gov-ron-desantis-sends-cops-to-eject-our-journalists-for-no-reason/\">report on their removal</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"11e8i\">DeSantis’ office did not respond to an emailed request for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"64k1r\">The governor’s office has <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/?politicians_or_public_figures_involved=Gov.%20Ron%20DeSantis\">barred press from covering press conferences or bill signings</a> on at least three other occasions since March 2020, including an incident in August 2021 when Stern was forcefully removed from a press conference with DeSantis and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The Tracker documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-at-advocacy-news-organization-dragged-from-press-conference/\">here</a>.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Occupy_Democrats_1.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"hkn3m\">“Miami Herald reporter Bianca Padró Ocasio captured footage of police escorting two Occupy Democrats journalists out of a gubernatorial press conference at Miami Dade College on April 12, 2022.”</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Florida",
"abbreviation": "FL"
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"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [
"State government: Governor"
],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Denial of Access"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Grant Stern (Occupy Democrats)",
"Thomas Kennedy (Occupy Democrats)"
],
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"Government event"
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},
{
"title": "A restraining order filed against two LA Times reporters to stop news story dissolved by judge",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/a-restraining-order-filed-against-two-la-times-reporters-to-stop-news-story-dissolved-by-judge/",
"first_published_at": "2022-08-11T19:13:51.696338Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-07-13T22:28:07.241095Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-07-13T22:28:07.121488Z",
"date": "2022-04-11",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Los Angeles",
"longitude": -118.24368,
"latitude": 34.05223,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"w2821\">Michael Mario Santillanes, a cosmetic surgeon who was the subject of a Los Angeles Times <a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-10/full-coverage-california-medical-board-and-troubled-doctors\">investigation</a>, filed a restraining order against two reporters who investigated claims that Santillanes continued to practice medicine after his license was revoked in 2020. After first granting the order against reporters Jack Dolan and Brittny Mejia, a California U.S. District judge then permanently dissolved it on April 11, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"5jbg2\"><a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-08-03/russian-thug-fake-yelp-former-california-doctor-medical-board\">According to the LA Times</a>, the judge cited “omissions and inconsistencies” in Santillanes’ story and accused him of “attempting to mislead the court.”</p><p data-block-key=\"71p1c\">When filing the request, Santillanes did not identify Dolan as a reporter, and claimed he was a menacing “Russian Thug.” Santillanes also implied that Mejia did not exist and was a made-up identity created to stalk his former clients on the review website, Yelp.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">He didn’t tell the judge I’m a reporter for the LA Times. He told her I was an enormous Russian thug dating his ex-wife. She signed the restraining order without Googling, apparently. With <a href=\"https://twitter.com/brittny_mejia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@brittny_mejia</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/g9wF5JZcz2\">https://t.co/g9wF5JZcz2</a></p>— Jack Dolan (@jackdolanLAT) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/jackdolanLAT/status/1554842112490741760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 3, 2022</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=\"w2821\">The LA Times reported that Santillanes' fictitious claims and the eventual restraining order — typically granted for immediate relief from violence, threats or harassment — derailed the reporters’ investigation.</p><p data-block-key=\"46e7i\">Neither Dolan nor Mejia responded to a request for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. The outlet’s General Counsel Jeff Glasser told the newspaper that this was the first time he had seen someone try to use a civil restraining order to prevent a news story.</p><p data-block-key=\"7v8cn\">“I was concerned that it posed a danger to our newsgathering,” Glasser said.</p><p data-block-key=\"8grgj\">After the Times filed documents to challenge the restraining order, a court hearing was held in Santa Ana in early May 2022. During the hearing, an LA Times attorney said the paper found a computer system breach the day after Santillanes filed for a restraining order. Dolan’s direct deposit paycheck had also been rerouted and transferred to a prepaid debit card, and his work email account was accessed more than a dozen times illegally.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This story marked a number of firsts. First court declaration. First time prepping to testify. First purchase of identity theft protection<br><br>An ex-doctor’s wild campaign against reporters w/ <a href=\"https://twitter.com/jackdolanLAT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@jackdolanLAT</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/JpGDsSQC3i\">https://t.co/JpGDsSQC3i</a></p>— Brittny Mejia (@brittny_mejia) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/brittny_mejia/status/1554854864378703872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 3, 2022</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=\"w2821\">Judge Sandy N. Leal, who had initially granted the temporary restraining order, stopped the hearing after two days, permanently dissolving the restraining order and dismissing the case. Leal also invited the Times to file a motion requesting that Santillanes pay the paper’s legal fees, which it did. On July 11, Leal ordered Santillanes to pay $117,000 in attorneys fees.</p></div>",
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"Other Incident"
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"Jack Dolan (Los Angeles Times)",
"Brittny Mejia (Los Angeles Times)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Documentary filmmaker subpoenaed by House Committee investigating Jan. 6 riot",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/documentary-filmmaker-subpoenaed-by-house-committee-investigating-jan-6-riot/",
"first_published_at": "2022-06-23T15:55:59.616478Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-25T16:28:27.161468Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-25T16:28:27.060862Z",
"date": "2022-04-05",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Washington",
"longitude": -77.03637,
"latitude": 38.89511,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"3h0g6\">The U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol subpoenaed British documentary filmmaker Nick Quested for footage and testimony in mid-2022, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/21/us/alex-holder-jan-6-subpoena-video.html?referringSource=articleShare\">according to The New York Times</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"6cf0r\">CNN <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/09/politics/nick-quested-january-6-committee-public-hearing-explainer/index.html\">reported</a> that Quested, executive director and owner of Goldcrest Films, was embedded with the Proud Boys, which the Southern Poverty Law Center <a href=\"https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys\">designates</a> as a hate group, for months leading up to the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Leaders of the Proud Boys were involved in the early clashes at the Capitol and five of them have been charged with seditious conspiracy.</p><p data-block-key=\"4148s\">In an <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/11/opinions/quested-proud-boys-jan-6-hearing-bergen/index.html\">interview with CNN</a>, Quested said, “I spoke to the authorities in an interview beforehand, but when they were using my work in the way that they did, I felt it was only appropriate for them to subpoena me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"8rjsf\">Quested told CNN that recognizing that he had likely filmed numerous crimes being committed, he decided to turn the footage over to the FBI.</p><p data-block-key=\"e358v\">“I didn’t feel there was any journalistic jeopardy giving that to authorities,” Quested said.</p><p data-block-key=\"5bmkp\">Quested <a href=\"https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/04-5-2022/candid-cameraman/\">told Politico</a> that he sat for an hours-long deposition on April 5, 2022. The documentarian also mentioned a possible second subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice.</p><p data-block-key=\"b65up\">Quested, who gave live testimony at a hearing on June 9, did not respond to requests for additional information on when the subpoena was issued or what materials were requested.</p><p data-block-key=\"5kpn6\">The House Select Committee, established on June 30 chaired by democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson, has now issued at least three subpoenas targeting journalists or their records. The committee subpoenaed freelance photojournalist Amy Harris’ <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/freelance-journalist-sues-following-house-committees-subpoena-of-her-phone-records/\">phone records</a> in November 2021 and ordered another British documentarian, Alex Holder, to <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/documentarian-subpoenaed-by-house-committee-investigating-jan-6-riot/\">provide footage and testify</a> before the committee on June 15, 2022.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"juo0d\">Nick Quested, a documentary filmmaker, testifies on June 9, 2022, before the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol. Quested said he was speaking in compliance with a subpoena.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product",
"name_of_business": null,
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"legal_order_venue": "Federal",
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"state": {
"name": "District of Columbia",
"abbreviation": "DC"
},
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"tags": [
"election",
"Election 2020",
"white nationalism"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Nick Quested (Goldcrest Films)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [
"carried out"
],
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Subpoena withdrawn for former NYT reporter in trial of Clinton campaign lawyer",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/dc_sussmann-trial_lichtblau_subpoena_04-2022/",
"first_published_at": "2022-05-26T19:16:22.127875Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-06-28T19:02:58.264030Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-06-28T19:02:58.087994Z",
"date": "2022-04-01",
"exact_date_unknown": true,
"city": "Washington",
"longitude": -77.03637,
"latitude": 38.89511,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ij4xv\">As part of a trial involving a former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer, a subpoena demanding testimony from a former New York Times reporter was submitted in April 2022 then withdrawn on May 24, legal counsel for the Times confirmed to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker in an email.</p><p data-block-key=\"eohfi\"><a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/25/us/politics/michael-sussmann-trial-eric-lichtblau.html\">According to the Times</a>, the subpoena called for Eric Lichtblau to testify in the trial of Michael Sussmann, who was charged with making false statements to the FBI in 2016 in his role as a Clinton campaign attorney.</p><p data-block-key=\"f8opr\">Prosecutors say that Sussmann met with former FBI General Counsel James Baker and shared information about data that allegedly linked the Trump Organization to Alfa Bank, a Russian bank affiliated with the Kremlin.</p><p data-block-key=\"3d3ru\">Prosecutors say Sussmann wanted to prompt an FBI investigation into the connection so that journalists could report on it. Sussmann’s defense team says he approached the FBI to notify them that an article was already underway.</p><p data-block-key=\"d7n2q\">Lichtblau, then a reporter for the Times, co-authored <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/01/us/politics/fbi-russia-election-donald-trump.html\">an article in October 2013</a>, six weeks after Sussmann met with the FBI, noting that officials had not been able to confirm a clear link between the Trump Organization and Alfa Bank.</p><p data-block-key=\"9dep0\"><a href=\"https://www.foxnews.com/media/durham-sussmann-trial-times-lichtblau\">Fox News reported</a> that before the defense lawyers withdrew the subpoena, Lichtblau had initially agreed to testify during the trial but then filed a protective order to limit testimony to only interactions between him and Sussmann and bar any questions about other sources.</p><p data-block-key=\"15tn0\">According to the Times, Lichtblau’s testimony could have “shed light on what he told Mr. Sussmann regarding how soon an article might be published before he sought the F.B.I. meeting.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": "other testimony",
"name_of_business": null,
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"name": "District of Columbia",
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"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Eric Lichtblau (The New York Times)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [
"dropped"
],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Colorado investigative journalist assaulted by city official",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/colorado-investigative-journalist-assaulted-by-city-official/",
"first_published_at": "2022-12-08T18:06:00.683497Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-01-09T22:14:01.158655Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-01-09T22:14:00.964856Z",
"date": "2022-03-29",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Fort Collins",
"longitude": -105.08442,
"latitude": 40.58526,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"zhs98\">Colorado independent journalist Stacy Lynne told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that Loveland City Manager Stephen Adams “shoulder-checked” her while she was covering a hearing on public records on March 29, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"bj7el\">“It still shocks me to realize that he actually hit me,” Lynne said. “I didn't even have time to adjust or brace, I didn't have time to defend myself at all.”</p><p data-block-key=\"57nt8\">As part of an investigation, Lynne had sued the city of Loveland in 2021 for access to records around a police detective’s employment files. In January 2022, a district court judge granted her unredacted access to the files. Lynne said she was attending the March evidentiary hearing for the Loveland mayor’s public records request which referenced her reporting.</p><p data-block-key=\"1pap5\">It was at the hearing, Lynne said, where she realized Adams had been involved in blocking access to the public records. Adams did not respond to requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"d1jl7\">After the incident, Lynne filed a report with the sheriff’s department. She said it took 72 days for harassment charges to be filed.</p><p data-block-key=\"4f7v5\">In October, Adams entered into a diversion agreement, a contract with the court that allows first-time offenders to <a href=\"https://www.larimer.gov/da/diversion-programs#:~:text=We%20offer%20diversion%20opportunities%20for,harm%20repair%20in%20the%20community.\">resolve cases outside the criminal justice process</a>. Larimer County Assistant District Attorney Matt Maillaro told the Tracker via email that the case remained open while Adams completed the conditions of his diversion agreement — 50 hours of community service and a conflict management class. According to the DA’s office, failure to meet the conditions could result in prosecution. Adams is expected to complete the agreement in February 2023.</p><p data-block-key=\"1l1qt\">Several months after the assault, Lynne said she was satisfied with how the DA’s office handled the case but was still disturbed by the city manager’s actions.</p><p data-block-key=\"bqkk9\">“His intention was clearly to scare me enough that I would stop reporting on what the city's problems are,” Lynne said. “So that's the chilling aspect, to make it clear that this was no accident.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"case_type": "CIVIL",
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"assailant": "public figure",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
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"state": {
"name": "Colorado",
"abbreviation": "CO"
},
"updates": [
"(2024-01-02 00:00:00+00:00) Colorado journalist awarded $110,000 settlement in assault suit against city manager"
],
"case_statuses": [
"settled"
],
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"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Stacy Lynne (Independent)"
],
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},
{
"title": "New York Post reporter assaulted by man being evicted from encampment",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/new-york-post-reporter-assaulted-by-man-being-evicted-from-encampment/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-07T17:40:41.252968Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-04T22:27:54.577315Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-04T22:27:54.010160Z",
"date": "2022-03-28",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"s5psp\">Kevin Sheehan, a reporter for the New York Post, was assaulted by a man who was being evicted from his makeshift dwelling in Riverbank State Park in New York City on March 28, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"73rda\">According to the <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/26/homeless-man-has-been-nesting-in-nyc-park-tree-for-months/\">Post</a>, the man, Rewell Altunaga, has lived in the park for several months. His eviction came the day after city officials issued a "notice of clean up" in the area of the park where Altunaga was living. Sheehan, who was reporting on the New York Police Department eviction of the area with a colleague, <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/28/nyc-squirrel-man-who-lives-in-park-tree-arrested-in-attack-on-post-reporter/\">captured the assault on video</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7iu2e\">The video shows Altunaga climbing down from a tree and grabbing a tree branch before walking toward Sheehan. Altunaga then asks Sheehan, "Why are you taking pictures?" before hitting Sheehan twice with the tree branch, once on his head, and knocking his phone out of his hand. Sheehan did not respond to requests for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, and it is unclear if his phone was damaged.</p><p data-block-key=\"tpq8\">In the video, Sheehan tells three police officers present about the assault. "This guy just hit me with a stick. You guys can't just let him walk away. That's assault," he said.</p><p data-block-key=\"7nqao\">The video shows NYPD police officers arresting Altunaga after he hit another Post journalist, photographer G.N. Miller, with a garbage bag, causing Miller’s camera to smash to the ground. The Tracker has documented that <a href=\"/all-incidents/new-york-post-photographer-assaulted-by-man-being-evicted-from-encampment/\">assault and equipment damage here.</a></p><p data-block-key=\"epavf\">According to the Post, Altunaga was charged with <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/29/squirrel-man-who-lives-in-manhattan-tree-released-without-bail-in-attack-on-post-reporter/\">second-degree assault</a> and released without bail on March 30. A judge also ordered that he remain clear of journalists Sheehan and Miller. NYPD has acknowledged but not responded to a request for more details.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"assailant": "private individual",
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"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
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"(2023-10-11 00:00:00+00:00) Case sealed for man who attacked New York Post reporter"
],
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"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"encampment"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Kevin Sheehan (New York Post)"
],
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},
{
"title": "New York Post photographer assaulted by man being evicted from encampment",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/new-york-post-photographer-assaulted-by-man-being-evicted-from-encampment/",
"first_published_at": "2022-04-07T17:43:07.680666Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-04T22:26:00.199804Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-04T22:25:59.986171Z",
"date": "2022-03-28",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"m53qw\">G.N. Miller, a photographer for the New York Post, was assaulted by a man who was being evicted from his makeshift dwelling in Riverbank State Park in New York City on March 28, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"aiqsc\">According to the <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/26/homeless-man-has-been-nesting-in-nyc-park-tree-for-months/\">New York Post</a>, the man, Rewell Altunaga, has lived in the park for several months. His eviction came the day after city officials issued a "notice of clean up" in the area of the park where Altunaga was living. Miller, who was reporting on the New York Police Department eviction of the area with a colleague, <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/28/nyc-squirrel-man-who-lives-in-park-tree-arrested-in-attack-on-post-reporter/\">captured the assault on video</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"acslf\">Miller did not respond to requests for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. Miller’s colleague, Post reporter Kevin Sheehan, was <a href=\"/all-incidents/new-york-post-reporter-assaulted-by-man-being-evicted-from-encampment/\">also assaulted by Altunaga</a>. Sheehan filmed NYPD police officers arresting Altunaga after he hit Miller with a garbage bag, causing Miller’s camera to smash to the ground.</p><p data-block-key=\"735a0\">According to the Post, Altunaga was charged with <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2022/03/29/squirrel-man-who-lives-in-manhattan-tree-released-without-bail-in-attack-on-post-reporter/\">second-degree assault</a> and released without bail on March 30. A judge also ordered that he remain clear of journalists Miller and Sheehan. NYPD has acknowledged but not responded to a request for more details.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"actor": "private individual",
"border_point": null,
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"denial_of_entry": false,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
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"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [
{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
"updates": [
"(2023-10-11 00:00:00+00:00) Case sealed for man who attacked New York Post photographer"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"encampment"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"G.N. Miller (New York Post)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "DC reporter subpoenaed by Republican fundraiser over leaked documents",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/dc-reporter-subpoenaed-by-republican-fundraiser-over-leaked-documents/",
"first_published_at": "2024-08-29T15:34:28.204723Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-08-29T15:34:28.204723Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-08-29T15:23:51.208302Z",
"date": "2022-03-23",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Washington",
"longitude": -77.03637,
"latitude": 38.89511,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"0bilh\">McClatchy reporter Ben Wieder was subpoenaed on March 23, 2022, for documents in a federal suit filed by Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy against agents of the state of Qatar, according to court documents reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"cfqk4\">Broidy had filed a separate subpoena against The Associated Press in connection with the leak of his emails to various news outlets in early 2018. In both the AP’s and Wieder’s cases, the subpoenas were ultimately dropped.</p><p data-block-key=\"810dc\">Broidy had initially filed suit March 2018 in U.S. District Court in California, accusing Qatar, a public relations firm it had employed and the firm’s CEO of hacking into email accounts and computer servers starting in January 2018. He alleged they had stolen his emails and documents and distributed them to the media.</p><p data-block-key=\"9af5s\">Broidy cited articles published in multiple outlets at the time about his anti-Qatar work on behalf of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia that appeared to rely on his anonymously leaked emails.</p><p data-block-key=\"euvp5\">The Associated Press also <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/a3521859cf8d4c199cb9a8567abd2b71\">reported</a> that beginning in February 2018, a number of news organizations started to receive “anonymously leaked batches of Broidy’s emails and documents that had apparently been hacked.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3sh6p\">Broidy <a href=\"https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kevincollier/reporters-sources-qatar-revealed-broidy-shield-law\">subpoenaed</a> phone records from the PR firm’s CEO, revealing that he had spoken repeatedly to multiple journalists who then wrote about Broidy. One of these journalists was Wieder, who the records revealed had spoken with the CEO twice in January 2018 and began publishing articles about Broidy the next month.</p><p data-block-key=\"4g4oo\">In May 2018, Broidy <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/republican-fundraiser-subpoenas-ap-documents-related-anonymous-sources/\">subpoenaed the AP</a>, demanding any leaked copies of his emails in their possession and documents that could identify the source of the leak. The outlet does not appear to have complied with the subpoena by the time that suit was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in September.</p><p data-block-key=\"dlppo\">Broidy subsequently filed suit in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against the same public relations firm and CEO. He subpoenaed Wieder in March 2022 for all documents, including reporting materials, and for communications produced between January to August 2018 concerning any of the parties in the suit, the state of Qatar or any associates.</p><p data-block-key=\"cjrme\">The subpoena also demanded any documents related to services Wieder had provided to Qatar or payments he had received from the state or its agents between June 2017 and December 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"7s1fh\">On April 25, 2022, Wieder filed a motion to quash the subpoena, arguing that the documents requested “go to the heart of the reporter’s privilege: confidential sources, interview notes, story pitches to editors, drafts of stories, and an unending list of other privileged newsgathering materials that Plaintiffs have no right – nor need – to inspect.” He wrote that his records were protected by both the First Amendment and Washington’s Free Flow of Information Act.</p><p data-block-key=\"879ct\">Wieder also argued that his notes and interviews had nothing to do with the alleged hacking and distribution of Broidy’s records, and that the insinuation that he had received payments from Qatar was “offensive.”</p><p data-block-key=\"sssq\">On June 23, Broidy and Wieder filed a joint stipulation to withdraw the subpoena and the motion to quash. Wieder was not subpoenaed again in the suit.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"4rh8z\">A portion of a 2022 subpoena demanding documents from McClatchy reporter Ben Wieder, in Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy’s federal suit alleging that the state of Qatar and its agents hacked his emails.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
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"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
"case_number": null,
"case_type": null,
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"is_search_warrant_obtained": false,
"actor": null,
"border_point": null,
"target_us_citizenship_status": null,
"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
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"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": "Federal",
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "District of Columbia",
"abbreviation": "DC"
},
"updates": [],
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"tags": [],
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"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
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"Ben Wieder (McClatchy)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Photojournalist assaulted in Denver while reporting on city’s efforts to curb crime",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalist-assaulted-in-denver-while-reporting-on-citys-efforts-to-curb-crime/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-24T20:24:35.224840Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-04-04T20:02:23.618488Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-04-04T20:02:23.561831Z",
"date": "2022-03-21",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Denver",
"longitude": -104.9847,
"latitude": 39.73915,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"7c9bo\">An unidentified photojournalist for CBS Denver News was assaulted while on assignment in Denver, Colorado, on March 21, 2022, according to the reporter accompanying him at the time.</p><p data-block-key=\"bb81r\">Kelly Werthmann, a CBS Denver News anchor, was with the photojournalist and witnessed the assault. Werthmann <a href=\"https://denver.cbslocal.com/2022/03/21/denver-crime-union-station-shooting/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter\">said in a newscast</a> after the assault that the incident occurred as the photojournalist gathered video footage of the Union Station and the Regional Transportation District bus terminal in downtown Denver.</p><p data-block-key=\"5ilsb\">“While we were out there earlier today, our photographer was simply trying to get video of the area, and that’s when a man, unprovoked, came over and hit him upside the head and threatened to kill him,” Werthmann said.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Working on a stay about safety around Union Station & the <a href=\"https://twitter.com/RideRTD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RideRTD</a> bus terminal here. Just minutes after setting up his camera, my photographer was assaulted. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DenverPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DenverPolice</a> here now taking the report. Thankfully my photog is ok, for the most part. <a href=\"https://t.co/CEgQso19KA\">pic.twitter.com/CEgQso19KA</a></p>— Kelly Werthmann 🌻 (@KellyCBS4) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KellyCBS4/status/1505983727385653258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 21, 2022</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=\"7c9bo\">Werthmann declined a request for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker but confirmed over email that the photojournalist was not seriously harmed. She also confirmed that no equipment was damaged during the incident, and both continued reporting on their assignments for that day.</p><p data-block-key=\"n9n3\">According to the outlet, the assault comes after a recent wave of violent incidents surrounding Union Station, including <a href=\"https://denver.cbslocal.com/2022/03/20/dominico-archuleta-union-station-shooting/\">a shooting</a> in the station’s underground bus terminal on March 19.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/CBS_News_Denver.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"bljsg\">A CBS Denver News photojournalist was assaulted by an unidentified man on March 21, 2022, at Denver's Union Station, shown in this 2017 file photo.<br/>REUTERS/Rick Wilking</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
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"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
"did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "unknown",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
"name_of_business": null,
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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": "Colorado",
"abbreviation": "CO"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Unidentified photojournalist 21 (KCNC-TV)"
],
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"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Journalist subpoenaed in connection with blinded photojournalist’s lawsuit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-23T14:53:02.849522Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-03T21:13:15.464349Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-03T21:13:15.363242Z",
"date": "2022-03-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Minneapolis",
"longitude": -93.26384,
"latitude": 44.97997,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"1p1ao\">The city of Minneapolis issued journalist Jared Goyette a subpoena on March 18, 2022, in connection with a pending lawsuit against the city and multiple law enforcement officials.</p><p data-block-key=\"bjgk5\">The Minneapolis Star Tribune <a href=\"https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-serving-subpoenas-on-journalists-in-lawsuit-over-2020-unrest-response/600157398/?refresh=true\">reported</a> that three journalists were ordered to produce a broad range of materials and communications relating to their coverage of protests following the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The subpoenas were filed in connection with an excessive use of force lawsuit filed by freelance photojournalist Linda Tirado, who was permanently blinded in one eye after police <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/freelance-photojournalist-permanently-blinded-others-assaulted-during-minneapolis-protests/\">shot her with a crowd-control munition</a> on May 29.</p><p data-block-key=\"3uve9\">Goyette, who was a freelance journalist at the time and now works for Fox 9, declined to comment further than confirming to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he was one of the three journalists subpoenaed. He is also a plaintiff in a separate class-action suit against the city and law enforcement, which <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-struck-in-the-eye-with-less-lethal-round-during-second-day-of-minnesota-protests/#update-337\">recently reached a partial settlement</a> with Minnesota State Patrol.</p><p data-block-key=\"3fn3l\">According to the Star Tribune, the subpoenas order the journalists to produce any images or documents pertaining to their coverage of the protests from May 26-31, 2020, and any communications they may have had with Tirado or her legal counsel, excepting anything that he has “a good faith basis to assert is protected by a legally recognized journalistic privilege.” The journalists were also ordered to appear for depositions via Zoom videoconferencing in late March.</p><p data-block-key=\"dtnci\">The journalists were each also asked for materials related to their own injuries from projectiles that struck them while covering the protests sparked by Floyd’s death. Goyette was struck in the eye with a crowd-control munition while covering protests on May 27. The Tracker has documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-struck-in-the-eye-with-less-lethal-round-during-second-day-of-minnesota-protests/\">here</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I got hit in the eye and then tear gassed. <a href=\"https://t.co/wXm1P5yPKb\">pic.twitter.com/wXm1P5yPKb</a></p>— Jared Goyette (@JaredGoyette) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/JaredGoyette/status/1265786797650558976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 27, 2020</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=\"1p1ao\"><a href=\"https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/03/18/minneapolis-city-attorney-subpoenas-reporters-in-police-brutality-suit\">According to MPR News</a>, the city issued similar subpoenas to <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/\">Andy Mannix</a> of the Star Tribune and <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/deputy-editor-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/\">Max Nesterak</a> of the Minnesota Reformer.</p><p data-block-key=\"5tkph\">In a statement shared with the Tracker, the City Attorney’s Office said: “The individuals subpoenaed were identified by Plaintiff Linda Tirado as having information relevant to her claims.</p><p data-block-key=\"autnk\">“It is incumbent upon the City Attorney’s Office, as it would be any attorney, to obtain information relevant to their client’s case, whether or not the individuals possessing that information happen to be journalists.”</p></div>",
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"actor": null,
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"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product",
"name_of_business": null,
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"legal_order_venue": "Federal",
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "Minnesota",
"abbreviation": "MN"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-06-02 10:33:00+00:00) Subpoenas dropped following settlement in blinded photojournalist’s lawsuit"
],
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"tags": [
"Black Lives Matter",
"protest"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
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],
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},
{
"title": "Deputy editor subpoenaed in connection with blinded photojournalist’s lawsuit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/deputy-editor-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-23T14:45:01.283931Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-03T22:34:53.061345Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-03T22:34:52.960367Z",
"date": "2022-03-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Minneapolis",
"longitude": -93.26384,
"latitude": 44.97997,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"uubim\">The city of Minneapolis issued Minnesota Reformer Deputy Editor Max Nesterak a subpoena on March 18, 2022, in connection with a pending lawsuit against the city and multiple law enforcement officials.</p><p data-block-key=\"eqav8\">The Minneapolis Star Tribune <a href=\"https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-serving-subpoenas-on-journalists-in-lawsuit-over-2020-unrest-response/600157398/?refresh=true\">reported</a> that Nesterak was one of three journalists ordered to produce a broad range of materials and communications relating to their coverage of protests following the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The subpoenas were filed in connection with an excessive use of force lawsuit filed by freelance photojournalist Linda Tirado, who was permanently blinded in one eye after police <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/freelance-photojournalist-permanently-blinded-others-assaulted-during-minneapolis-protests/\">shot her with a crowd-control munition</a> on May 29.</p><p data-block-key=\"cvnlh\">Nesterak, who declined to comment on advice from counsel, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/maxnesterak/status/1504919070575005699\">confirmed</a> on Twitter that he was one of the journalists served with a subpoena.</p><p data-block-key=\"48o4g\">In a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/maxnesterak/status/1504919422787624961\">subsequent post</a>, Nesterak included a photo of the subpoena, which orders him to bring “all videos, photographs, recordings, communications, documents, or other items in your possession (including social media posts) that are related to you being hit in the chest as stated in your tweet from 11:32 p.m. on May 27, 2020.” The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalists-hit-less-lethal-rounds-during-second-day-minnesota-protests/\">here</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">And I got hit in the chest by a rubber bullet from police. Covered me in dust that’s been making me cough for a half hour. I’m home now. <a href=\"https://t.co/sYShFOjvQO\">pic.twitter.com/sYShFOjvQO</a></p>— Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/maxnesterak/status/1265863514754813952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 28, 2020</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=\"uubim\">The subpoena also orders Nesterak to produce any images or documents pertaining to his coverage of the protests from May 26-31, 2020, and any communications he may have had with Tirado or her legal counsel, excepting anything that he has “a good faith basis to assert is protected by a legally recognized journalistic privilege.”</p><p data-block-key=\"185f9\"><a href=\"https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/03/18/minneapolis-city-attorney-subpoenas-reporters-in-police-brutality-suit\">According to MPR News</a>, the city issued similar subpoenas to <a href=\"/all-incidents/reporter-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/\">Andy Mannix</a> of the Star Tribune and <a href=\"/all-incidents/journalist-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/\">Jared Goyette</a>, who was a freelance journalist during the protests and now works for Fox 9.</p><p data-block-key=\"9t57l\">The City Attorney’s Office shared a statement with the Tracker that said the individuals subpoenaed were identified by Tirado as having relevant information.</p><p data-block-key=\"6ndg9\">“It is incumbent upon the City Attorney’s Office, as it would be any attorney, to obtain information relevant to their client’s case, whether or not the individuals possessing that information happen to be journalists.”</p><p data-block-key=\"dgjbu\">In a statement shared with the Tracker, Reformer Editor-in-Chief J. Patrick Coolican said the outlet intends to fight the subpoena.</p><p data-block-key=\"8mhm3\">“This ham-handed effort to intimidate journalists with a burdensome legal action will not achieve its intended effect,” Coolican said. “Quite the contrary. We will continue to aggressively pursue our reporting, and protect our newsgathering rights from interference by government officials.”</p></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "Minnesota",
"abbreviation": "MN"
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"updates": [
"(2022-06-02 10:34:00+00:00) Subpoenas dropped following settlement in blinded photojournalist’s lawsuit"
],
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"tags": [
"Black Lives Matter",
"protest"
],
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"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Max Nesterak (Minnesota Reformer)"
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"dropped"
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},
{
"title": "Reporter subpoenaed in connection with blinded photojournalist’s lawsuit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-23T14:48:55.597992Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-03T20:58:40.956896Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-03T20:58:40.843653Z",
"date": "2022-03-18",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Minneapolis",
"longitude": -93.26384,
"latitude": 44.97997,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"hozcv\">The city of Minneapolis issued Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Andy Mannix a subpoena on March 18, 2022, in connection with a pending lawsuit against the city and multiple law enforcement officials.</p><p data-block-key=\"cefrv\">The Star Tribune <a href=\"https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-serving-subpoenas-on-journalists-in-lawsuit-over-2020-unrest-response/600157398/?refresh=true\">reported</a> that Mannix was one of three journalists ordered to produce a broad range of materials and communications relating to their coverage of protests following the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The subpoenas were filed in connection with an excessive use of force lawsuit filed by freelance photojournalist Linda Tirado, who was permanently blinded in one eye after police <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/freelance-photojournalist-permanently-blinded-others-assaulted-during-minneapolis-protests/\">shot her with a crowd-control munition</a> on May 29.</p><p data-block-key=\"419cp\">Mannix declined to comment on advice from counsel.</p><p data-block-key=\"fb23d\">According to the Star Tribune, the subpoenas order the journalists to produce any images or documents pertaining to their coverage of the protests from May 26-31, 2020, and any communications they may have had with Tirado or her legal counsel, excepting anything that he has “a good faith basis to assert is protected by a legally recognized journalistic privilege.” The journalists were also ordered to appear for depositions via Zoom videoconferencing in late March.</p><p data-block-key=\"8nljl\">Mannix was also asked for materials related to his thigh injury from a projectile that struck him while he was covering protests on May 26, 2020, the day after Floyd’s death. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalists-struck-projectiles-while-covering-minneapolis-protest/\">here</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I Was just shot with this in the thigh. <a href=\"https://t.co/igcJ3e7iQ4\">pic.twitter.com/igcJ3e7iQ4</a></p>— Andy Mannix (@AndrewMannix) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/AndrewMannix/status/1265447846079315973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 27, 2020</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=\"hozcv\"><a href=\"https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/03/18/minneapolis-city-attorney-subpoenas-reporters-in-police-brutality-suit\">According to MPR News</a>, the city issued similar subpoenas to <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/deputy-editor-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/\">Max Nesterak</a> of the Minnesota Reformer and <a href=\"/all-incidents/journalist-subpoenaed-in-connection-with-blinded-photojournalists-lawsuit/\">Jared Goyette</a>, who was a freelance journalist during the protests and now works for Fox 9.</p><p data-block-key=\"2iu98\">In a statement shared with the Tracker, the City Attorney’s Office said: “The individuals subpoenaed were identified by Plaintiff Linda Tirado as having information relevant to her claims.</p><p data-block-key=\"borth\">“It is incumbent upon the City Attorney’s Office, as it would be any attorney, to obtain information relevant to their client’s case, whether or not the individuals possessing that information happen to be journalists.”</p><p data-block-key=\"cs4r0\">Suki Dardarian, senior managing editor and vice president of the Star Tribune, said in a statement to the outlet, “We are reviewing the issue, but we expect to challenge the subpoena.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"v53xi\">A portion of the subpoena issued to Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Andy Mannix, who was struck with a crowd-control munition while covering protests in Minnesota in May 2020.</p>",
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"name": "Minnesota",
"abbreviation": "MN"
},
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"(2022-06-02 09:58:00+00:00) Subpoenas dropped following settlement in blinded photojournalist’s lawsuit"
],
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},
{
"title": "Tulsa multimedia journalist shot with pellet gun while preparing for live shot",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/tulsa-multimedia-journalist-shot-with-pellet-gun-while-preparing-for-live-shot/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-30T15:38:08.898107Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-03-31T16:34:45.623710Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-03-31T16:34:45.552200Z",
"date": "2022-03-16",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Tulsa",
"longitude": -95.99277,
"latitude": 36.15398,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"1j784\">Katie Keleher, a multimedia journalist with NBC-affiliated station KJRH-TV, was shot with a pellet gun while reporting in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 16, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"eldkk\">KJRH <a href=\"https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/tulsa-police-looking-into-pellet-gun-shootings\">reported</a> that Keleher was preparing for a live shot just before 10 p.m. near the corner of Reconciliation Way and Main Street when a group of people pulled up in a car. One of the individuals pointed a pellet gun out of the window and shot at Keleher and her photographer. </p><p data-block-key=\"ergs4\">“We picked that area because as journalists, we think about our safety first, and I felt safe in that spot,” Keleher told the station. “All of a sudden, I felt something hitting my back and I just froze. Just little pellets and I just remember my jaw dropping and I just froze in fear."</p><p data-block-key=\"aud1o\">Keleher <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KKeleherKJRH/status/1504846253670154284\">wrote on Twitter</a> that she was struck in the back with around five pellets, but that her photographer, whom she identified as Marisa, wasn’t hit. </p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The past couple of days are a lot to process. <br><br>I was shot at by a pellet gun while preparing for my 10pm live shot in downtown Tulsa Wednesday night. I was hit in the back about five times. My photographer, Marisa, was not hit. But she did catch it on camera. (1/4)</p>— Katie Keleher (@KKeleherKJRH) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KKeleherKJRH/status/1504846253670154284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 18, 2022</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=\"1j784\">“Thankfully, the puffy jacket I was wearing softened the blow. If not for that, I would probably have bruises all over my back,” Keleher <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KKeleherKJRH/status/1504846254949515265\">wrote</a> in a follow-up tweet.</p><p data-block-key=\"70hsc\">Keleher told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that while the individuals would have seen the broadcast camera and lighting rig, she didn’t think she was targeted for being a journalist.</p><p data-block-key=\"76aup\">“Police video shows them driving down the street further and shooting at someone sitting outside of a restaurant, so I think it was just because I was standing there on the corner,” Keleher said. </p><p data-block-key=\"eqcpa\">The Tulsa Police Department said they are searching for a tan Nissan sedan in connection with the attack and released <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/100064589030710/videos/pcb.329100219252943/536522354529300\">footage</a> on Facebook on March 21 asking for the public’s help in identifying the shooters.</p><p data-block-key=\"9542k\">Michael Perry, senior director of external communication at KJRH’s parent company Scripps, told the Tracker that police have not updated the station with any information since the attack.</p><p data-block-key=\"1dclr\"><a href=\"https://www.fox23.com/news/tulsa-police-say-dangerous-tiktok-trend-has-been-showing-up-city/GA7BTKYVJ5EGFMDFP272OZMNAA/\">According to Fox23</a>, multiple individuals have been shot with pellet guns in recent weeks and the incidents may be part of a social media trend. The TPD did not respond to requests about whether the incidents are related or provide further information.</p><p data-block-key=\"etab9\">“Police are saying this is part of a TikTok trend and I’ve seen it happening in other states, and I just don’t understand why anyone would think it was okay to do that, why it’s funny,” Keleher said. “I was pretty scared for a couple days after and it was definitely a terrifying and traumatizing experience and I was just standing on a corner trying to do my job.”</p><p data-block-key=\"alu12\"><i>Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include comment from Katie Keleher.</i></p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"b9332\">This frame from footage provided to Tulsa Police shows KJRH-TV journalist Katie Keleher moments before individuals in the car behind her shot at her with a pellet gun as she prepared for a live shot on March 16, 2022.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Oklahoma",
"abbreviation": "OK"
},
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"shot / shot at"
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"categories": [
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{
"title": "Mississippi GOP’s ban on press access to caucus meetings upheld",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/mississippi-gops-ban-on-press-access-to-caucus-meetings-upheld/",
"first_published_at": "2025-04-23T14:58:08.407886Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-23T14:58:08.407886Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-23T14:58:08.323120Z",
"date": "2022-03-14",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Jackson",
"longitude": -90.18481,
"latitude": 32.29876,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"rt5ox\">Mississippi Free Press reporter Nick Judin was denied access to a Republican caucus meeting in the Mississippi House of Representatives at the Capitol building in Jackson on March 14, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"dppqr\">The access denial survived multiple subsequent rulings and appeals, one of which in February 2025 determined that the state Legislature itself was not subject to the state’s <a href=\"https://www.ethics.ms.gov/title-25-chapter-41-open-meetings\">Open Meetings Act</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"dvhg5\">Journalists covering the Legislature as a whole need a credential for floor access, Judin told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, and the public has access to the gallery during regular sessions.</p><p data-block-key=\"78kbu\">He added that the outlet had “long known that the House GOP was holding secret caucus meetings.”</p><p data-block-key=\"apeqk\">Judin <a href=\"https://www.mississippifreepress.org/house-republicans-deny-mississippi-free-press-access-to-gop-caucus-meeting/\">wrote</a> in the Mississippi Free Press that the outlet had requested access to the caucus meetings for nearly two months starting in early 2022, including by contacting House Speaker Philip Gunn’s director of communications, but didn’t receive a response.</p><p data-block-key=\"a65qq\">Then, after learning when and where one was being held in March 2022, Judin attempted to attend, entering a room in the Mississippi State Capitol where the House’s Republican lawmakers — who at the time held a large enough <a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Mississippi_House_of_Representatives\">majority</a> in the body to make up a full quorum — were meeting.</p><p data-block-key=\"49v5c\">Shortly after entering, staffers noticed Judin was there and halted the meeting. He told them he was attending under the Open Meetings Act, but the staffers and Gunn said the law did not apply.</p><p data-block-key=\"a6om5\">As Judin told the Tracker, because Republicans hold such a wide majority in the House, caucus meetings — rather than sessions held on the House floor — are where policy debates are held and the fate of legislation is decided.</p><p data-block-key=\"7ge1t\">“The problem is that with its overwhelming majority, the House GOP can effectively use caucus meetings to whip votes and determine the outcome of legislation before it is even discussed in public,” Judin said. “This ensures the people’s business is done behind closed doors, in flagrant violation of Mississippi transparency law.”</p><p data-block-key=\"20hhh\">On April 12, Judin and the Mississippi Free Press <a href=\"https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Supp-Complaint-MFP-Judin-to-Ethics-Commission.pdf\">filed</a> a complaint against Gunn and the House Republican Caucus with the Mississippi Ethics Commission, alleging that they had violated the Open Meetings Act.</p><p data-block-key=\"e931c\">The complaint argued that the caucus meetings were covered by the act, noting that it required “that public business be performed in an open and public manner, and that citizens be advised of and be aware of the performance of public officials and the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy.”</p><p data-block-key=\"964t6\">The Mississippi Ethics Commission <a href=\"https://www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-free-press-mississippi-center-for-justice-to-appeal-closed-door-caucus-meetings/\">ruled</a> 5-3 on Dec. 14, 2022, that the Legislature as a whole was not a public body and therefore not subject to the Open Meetings Act, rejecting a recommendation by its director to side with the news outlet.</p><p data-block-key=\"dgi87\">Stephen Burrow, a commissioner who voted with the majority, <a href=\"https://www.mississippifreepress.org/ethics-commission-to-affirm-mississippi-legislature-not-a-public-body/\">told</a> the Mississippi Free Press that while he agreed in principle that caucus meetings should be open, that ultimately wasn’t the question at issue.</p><p data-block-key=\"b4v8l\">“What is before us is whether or not the Legislature chose to include itself within the definition of a public body, and it’s very plain to me that while they included (legislative) committees, they excluded other committees from this for whatever reason. When the Open Meetings Act was passed in 1975, they chose not to include themselves,” Burrow said.</p><p data-block-key=\"43tk\">Burrow also noted that the Legislature may have excluded itself from the act because it was already required to be open under the state’s constitution, but it was not the commission’s job to rule on that issue.</p><p data-block-key=\"70if1\">The Mississippi Free Press and Judin <a href=\"https://www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-free-press-mississippi-center-for-justice-to-appeal-closed-door-caucus-meetings/\">appealed</a> the decision to the Hinds County Chancery Court. Judge Dewayne Thomas upheld the Ethics Commission’s decision on Feb. 18, 2025, <a href=\"https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Order_Chancery_Court_Denying_Relief_and_Dismissing_Appeal_2.pdf\">citing</a> the Open Meetings Act’s definition of a public body and noting that it did not expressly include the Mississippi House of Representatives.</p><p data-block-key=\"9mmsp\">“We are obviously disappointed in this ruling, but not particularly surprised. There is a continuing breakdown in both public trust in the press and governmental transparency and press access at the national and local level,” Judin said, adding, “These rulings encourage public officials to conceal their public work from the public’s eyes, and in my opinion, this obscurity is the perfect soil for fraud and abuse.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"628as\">The Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson. Mississippi Free Press reporter Nick Judin was denied access to a Republican caucus meeting there on March 14, 2022.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
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"status_of_seized_equipment": null,
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"actor": null,
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"denial_of_entry": false,
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"assailant": null,
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"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
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"state": {
"name": "Mississippi",
"abbreviation": "MS"
},
"updates": [],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [
"State government: Legislature"
],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Denial of Access"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Nick Judin (Mississippi Free Press)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": null,
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"Government event"
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},
{
"title": "Judge will review her order forcing Berkshire Eagle editor to turn over reporting notes",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/judge-will-review-her-order-forcing-berkshire-eagle-editor-to-turn-over-reporting-notes/",
"first_published_at": "2022-09-30T21:19:31.726113Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-04-01T16:44:19.149201Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-04-01T16:44:19.037482Z",
"date": "2022-03-10",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Springfield",
"longitude": -72.58981,
"latitude": 42.10148,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"kq10s\">A Massachusetts Superior Court judge said during a Sept. 22, 2022, hearing that she would reexamine her previous decision forcing a Berkshire Eagle editor to turnover his confidential reporting notes as part of a clergy abuse lawsuit.</p><p data-block-key=\"cvvse\">According <a href=\"https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/roman-catholic-diocese-of-springfield-bishop-christoper-weldon-first-amendment-confidential-sources-journalism-sexual-abuse/article_767da1aa-39d8-11ed-bc93-638710b58bda.html\">to the Eagle</a>, Larry Parnass, managing editor for innovation at the Berkshire Eagle, published more than a dozen news stories since 2019 on sexual abuse allegation cover-ups involving the Springfield Diocese. As part of a lawsuit, the diocese subpoenaed Parnass this March, seeking his testimony and a broad array of reporting materials it said were needed to verify the consistency of claims made to investigators and a review board. Attorneys for the Eagle objected to the order, arguing that turning over the materials would compromise a confidential source.</p><p data-block-key=\"8sg3m\">Parnass and the Eagles’ attorney, Jeffrey Pyle, did not respond to requests for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"efarp\">In a ruling this summer, Judge Karin L. Goodwin upheld the subpoena but narrowed the scope to materials she believed did not include identifying information of confidential sources.</p><p data-block-key=\"6sqo\">During the September 2022 hearing, Pyle argued the diocese’s requests for information did not overcome the First Amendment and was not significant enough to violate a reporter’s confidential relationship with a source, <a href=\"https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/springfield-roman-catholic-diocese-clergy-abuse-rape-christopher-weldon-confidential-sources-first-amendment/article_8e411e68-3abc-11ed-83a3-c7cb7246442d.html\">the Eagle reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7a8c7\">“This story would never have been published by The Berkshire Eagle had not Mr. Parnass been able to ensure confidential sources of his promise not to reveal their identities, and in that respect, this case is much like many other cases that have involved award-winning, societally important journalism,” Pyle said during the hearing. “The stakes are very high here.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bp0sj\">Goodwin said she would reexamine her previous ruling allowing the subpoena to move forward in part. She did not say when she would release that decision.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": null,
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"release_date": null,
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"actor": null,
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"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": "Massachusetts",
"abbreviation": "MA"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-10-03 19:04:00+00:00) Revising her own order, judge rules editor doesn’t have to turn over confidential reporting"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Larry Parnass (The Berkshire Eagle)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [
"upheld"
],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Louisiana photojournalist assaulted during investigation of mistaken release of convict",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/louisiana-photojournalist-assaulted-during-investigation-of-mistaken-release-of-convict/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-10T18:58:25.822904Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-03-08T21:19:22.412886Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-03-08T21:19:22.277715Z",
"date": "2022-03-03",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Tangipahoa Parish",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"oen14\">WWL-TV photojournalist T.J. Pipitone and a colleague were assaulted by an individual while reporting on the mistaken release of a convicted pedophile in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, on March 3, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"a4d13\">In a <a href=\"https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/investigations/serial-child-molester-erroneously-set-free-returned-to-prison-wwl-tv-investigation/289-1ba35959-ccd5-4c36-ae4b-15089c7fa2ea\">report</a> for the broadcast station, reporter David Hammer said that he and the photojournalist had gone to the home of Brian David Matherne for comment after he was released more than seven years early from his nearly 30-year sentence. The journalists did not know at the time that Matherne had been imprisoned again after some victims alerted the state Department of Corrections of the error.</p><p data-block-key=\"3mb6u\">“Before we could approach the trailer, we were attacked by the owner of the property — Bruce Verdin — who was arrested by Tangipahoa Sheriff’s deputies,” Hammer said.</p><p data-block-key=\"958mj\">WWL-TV reported that Verdin, who is Matherne’s brother-in-law, attacked the journalists with a wrench and attempted to hit the photojournalist with his truck. In footage of the incident, Verdin can be seen repeatedly striking out at the journalists and their camera.</p><p data-block-key=\"e53su\">Hammer, who did not respond to requests for comment, identified himself and photojournalist T.J. Pipitone as the journalists attacked in a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1499590167379730444\">tweet</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Had quite a day. My <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WWLTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WWLTV</a> investigation got a serial child molester put back in prison after his erroneous early release. Then photographer <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TJPIPITONE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TJPIPITONE</a> and I got attacked. See the details next at 10:00 on Channel 4.</p>— David Hammer (@davidhammerWWL) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1499590167379730444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2022</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=\"oen14\">In response to a note asking if they were OK, Hammer <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1499686809000886276\">wrote</a> that they had suffered “just a couple bumps and bruises.” Pipitone also did not respond to messages requesting comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"drrjg\">The station reported that the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office arrested Verdin on three counts of aggravated battery and a count of aggravated destruction of property. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker was not able to verify whether any of the journalists’ equipment was damaged in the assault.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
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"links": [],
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"state": {
"name": "Louisiana",
"abbreviation": "LA"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-03-23 09:57:00+00:00) Louisiana photojournalist hit by car, knocked into ditch",
"(2023-03-06 16:19:00+00:00) Man sentenced for assault of reporter, photojournalist"
],
"case_statuses": [],
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"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
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"T.J. Pipitone (WWL-TV)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Louisiana reporter assaulted during investigation of mistaken release of convict",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/louisiana-reporter-assaulted-during-investigation-of-mistaken-release-of-convict/",
"first_published_at": "2022-03-10T19:02:09.050373Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-26T15:00:35.542806Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-10-26T15:00:35.360291Z",
"date": "2022-03-03",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Tangipahoa Parish",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"dxwer\">WWL-TV reporter David Hammer and a colleague were assaulted by an individual while reporting on the mistaken release of a convicted pedophile in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, on March 3, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"25tev\">In a <a href=\"https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/investigations/serial-child-molester-erroneously-set-free-returned-to-prison-wwl-tv-investigation/289-1ba35959-ccd5-4c36-ae4b-15089c7fa2ea\">report</a> for the broadcast station, Hammer said that he and a photojournalist had gone to the home of Brian David Matherne for comment after he was released more than seven years early from his nearly 30-year sentence. The journalists did not know at the time that Matherne had been imprisoned again after some victims alerted the state Department of Corrections of the error.</p><p data-block-key=\"4uguj\">“Before we could approach the trailer, we were attacked by the owner of the property — Bruce Verdin — who was arrested by Tangipahoa Sheriff’s deputies,” Hammer said.</p><p data-block-key=\"5h83v\">WWL-TV reported that Verdin, who is Matherne’s brother-in-law, attacked the journalists with a wrench and attempted to hit the photojournalist with his truck. In footage of the incident, Verdin can be seen repeatedly striking out at the journalists and their camera.</p><p data-block-key=\"1jiac\">Hammer, who did not respond to requests for comment, identified himself and photojournalist T.J. Pipitone as the journalists attacked in a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1499590167379730444\">tweet</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Had quite a day. My <a href=\"https://twitter.com/WWLTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@WWLTV</a> investigation got a serial child molester put back in prison after his erroneous early release. Then photographer <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TJPIPITONE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TJPIPITONE</a> and I got attacked. See the details next at 10:00 on Channel 4.</p>— David Hammer (@davidhammerWWL) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1499590167379730444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 4, 2022</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=\"dxwer\">In response to a note asking if they were OK, Hammer <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1499686809000886276\">wrote</a> that they had suffered “just a couple bumps and bruises.”</p><p data-block-key=\"djt2u\">In a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/davidhammerWWL/status/1502280403805249536\">tweet</a> a week after the incident, Hammer confirmed that Verdin smashed Hammer’s cellphone that he was using to film the attack.</p><p data-block-key=\"5545o\">The station reported that the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office arrested Verdin on three counts of aggravated battery and a count of aggravated destruction of property. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker was not able to verify whether any of the journalists’ equipment was damaged in the assault.</p><p data-block-key=\"bp1rs\"><i>Editor’s note: This article has been updated with information concerning the damage to David Hammer’s cellphone during the incident.</i></p></div>",
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"assailant": "private individual",
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{
"quantity": 1,
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"quantity": 1,
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],
"state": {
"name": "Louisiana",
"abbreviation": "LA"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-03-23 09:56:00+00:00) Louisiana reporter struck with pliers, phone damaged",
"(2023-03-06 16:17:00+00:00) Man sentenced for assault of reporter, photojournalist"
],
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"categories": [
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"Equipment Damage"
],
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{
"title": "Utah Senate becomes third state legislature this year to limit journalists’ access",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/utah-senate-becomes-third-state-legislature-this-year-to-limit-journalists-access/",
"first_published_at": "2022-02-28T17:57:10.334323Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-20T21:01:48.303268Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-20T21:01:48.210256Z",
"date": "2022-02-15",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Salt Lake City",
"longitude": -111.89105,
"latitude": 40.76078,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"r06a4\">Republican leaders in the Utah State Senate pushed through a rule change limiting press access to the chamber, halls, lounge and committee rooms on Feb. 15, 2022, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.</p><p data-block-key=\"6giq9\">The <a href=\"https://le.utah.gov/~2022/bills/static/SR0001.html\">rule change</a> requires that journalists receive permission from a “Senate media designee” in order to have access to the Senate floor and adjacent hallways to conduct a specific interview and be escorted out of the area when it is completed. Journalists also must ask permission from the committee chair to film or take pictures from behind the dias. The resolution passed 17 to 5, the Tribune <a href=\"https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2022/02/15/republicans-utah-senate/\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"5m7su\">Traditionally, members of the press were allowed on the floor of both the House and Senate, as well as in some areas that are not open to the public, <a href=\"https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/2/9/22925708/utah-senate-rule-to-limit-press-access-capitol-hill-government-transparency-legislature-media\">according to Deseret News</a>. The policies changed during the coronavirus pandemic and the Senate vote made some of the restrictions permanent.</p><p data-block-key=\"9m9k1\">FOX 13 reporter Ben Winslow told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker via email that there had been some rumblings that lawmakers were upset with one or more reporters for eavesdropping on conversations and “skulking” around the chamber.</p><p data-block-key=\"eshh0\">“Looking back over the years, this may have been building with a few complaints about reporters going into areas lawmakers felt they shouldn’t be in, and it’s not the first time we’ve had to challenge rules limiting press access,” Winslow wrote. “In COVID, access to the chambers unescorted was completely cut off and I don’t see it coming back.”</p><p data-block-key=\"ebt7n\">Sen. Mike McKell, the sponsor of the measure, cited security concerns as the primary concern behind the policy shift, according to the Tribune, though members of the press are required to submit to yearly background checks as part of the credentialing process.</p><p data-block-key=\"10fu5\">McKell also dismissed concerns that the change limits the media’s access, citing the Senate’s daily media availability.</p><p data-block-key=\"8n730\">“The Senate has a long-standing tradition of holding media availability. That’s not going to change. That happens every single day after floor time,” McKell told the Tribune. According to the newspaper, senators have spent an average of about 13 minutes taking questions during such sessions during the 2022 legislative session.</p><p data-block-key=\"dii9c\">McKell did not respond to requests for further comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"7ikvp\">According to the Tribune, other Senate Republicans noted that committee meetings and floor debates are now routinely livestreamed, a measure put in place during the pandemic.</p><p data-block-key=\"3im6h\">The policy change was met with criticism from <a href=\"https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2022/2/10/22926428/utah-legislature-senate-rules-sr1-reporters-need-permission-to-interview\">local</a> <a href=\"https://universe.byu.edu/2022/02/17/opinion-proposed-rules-for-utah-journalists-hurt-everyone/\">journalists</a> and national press freedom organizations, particularly as Republican legislators in both <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalists-removed-from-iowa-senate-floor-overturning-a-century-old-practice/\">Iowa</a> and <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalists-moved-from-kansas-senate-floor-to-public-gallery-for-new-legislative-session/\">Kansas</a> announced similar policy shifts limiting press access to the senate floor in 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"4pr06\">“Given that it can be difficult to locate any particular member of the Senate, rushing as they are between the floor, committee hearings and offices, this access has been crucial to journalists in their efforts to give their audience a full picture of what’s happening,” the Tribune’s Editorial Board <a href=\"https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/editorial/2022/02/04/reporters-lawmakers-both/\">wrote</a>. “Removing it can only serve to help senators avoid public scrutiny.”</p><p data-block-key=\"74hrh\">Winslow told the Tracker he spoke against the bill during the public comment period, highlighting that often he needs only 30 seconds to get clarification on a bill and that the rule is impractical.</p><p data-block-key=\"dqq4u\">“We sometimes roll into a committee hearing mid-way through a bill and how do I get the permission of the committee chair without interrupting everything?” Winslow wrote. “One senator said there was a logic to my argument there. They still voted to pass the rule.”</p><p data-block-key=\"e8i3l\">Winslow did note that, despite the new rules, none of his station’s photographers have been prevented from filming from locations they have used in the past.</p><p data-block-key=\"2k2l9\">“One committee chair saw us walk into his hearing mid-meeting and he stood up and walked over to motion the photographer up, which is a really nice sign that they still want us there,” Winslow wrote. He added that the policy change has built up momentum for formalizing a Capitol press corps that may ultimately lead to improved access and credentialing.</p><p data-block-key=\"b68uj\">Bridger Beal-Cvetko, a reporter at Salt Lake City-based newspaper The Deseret News, said he also hasn’t experienced any changes to access, but that he is concerned that the new rule paves a path for blocking access down the line.</p><p data-block-key=\"f5k0e\">“The worry that a lot of people have is that it’s great that they allow access most of the time, but if there’s a controversial bill or an unpopular discussion that’s happening they could decide not to give the same level of access, and that’s concerning to a lot of people,” Beal-Cvetko told the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"d55uk\">The Associated Press <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-business-iowa-legislature-4688b35753bf6ec86c2d8224b6e5bb00\">reported</a> that the rule changes are now advancing through the Utah House.</p></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "Utah",
"abbreviation": "UT"
},
"updates": [
"(2022-02-28 15:22:00+00:00) Utah House revises procedures around media access"
],
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"Media"
],
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],
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"categories": [
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}
]
