GET /api/edge/incidents/?cursor=cD0yMDIyLTExLTE2LWFlN2QzYzMyLTc3MzEtMTFlZC1iYWU2LThhNWQ3MWFiODcyOQ%3D%3D&format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Access-Control-Allow-Methods: GET,OPTIONS,HEAD
Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *
Allow: GET, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Link: 
<http://pressfreedomtracker.us/api/edge/incidents/?format=api>; rel="first",
<http://pressfreedomtracker.us/api/edge/incidents/?cursor=cj0xJnA9MjAyMi0xMS0xNi00YTU4YjA3Ni1lYjE4LTExZWYtODExZi05NjFiY2MwMDQ5NjM%3D&format=api>; rel="prev",
<http://pressfreedomtracker.us/api/edge/incidents/?cursor=cD0yMDIyLTA4LTI3LTg1MWE4NmNlLTJlZWQtMTFlZC05ODYyLWZlMDJhYzQyZjQzNQ%3D%3D&format=api>; rel="next"
Vary: Accept
[ { "title": "Reporter subpoenaed for documents in securities fraud case", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/reporter-subpoenaed-for-documents-in-securities-fraud-case/", "first_published_at": "2025-02-14T21:13:47.989816Z", "last_published_at": "2025-02-14T21:21:29.497038Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2025-02-14T21:21:29.387023Z", "date": "2022-11-16", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "San Francisco", "longitude": -122.41942, "latitude": 37.77493, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"d9y98\">Roddy Boyd, editor and founder of the investigative reporting outlet Foundation for Financial Journalism, was ordered to turn over documents on Nov. 16, 2022, in connection with a California securities fraud lawsuit, according to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"8unau\">The case was ultimately dismissed in February 2023 as part of settlement negotiations in the underlying fraud case.</p><p data-block-key=\"4h986\">In January 2019, Boyd published an <a href=\"https://ffj-online.org/2019/01/25/corcept-therapeutics-the-company-that-perfectly-explains-the-health-care-crisis/\">article</a> through his Southern Investigative Reporting Foundation — <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundation-for-financial-journalism/\">renamed</a> the Foundation for Financial Journalism in 2020 — alleging that pharmaceutical company Corcept Therapeutics paid doctors to prescribe its drug Korlym for off-label uses.</p><p data-block-key=\"eq6u0\">The revelations in Boyd’s article led to a decline in Corcept’s share price, company shareholders alleged in a securities fraud class-action <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.339504/gov.uscourts.cand.339504.1.0.pdf\">suit</a> filed two months later against the company and its top executives in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.</p><p data-block-key=\"aj89a\">As part of its defense, Corcept issued the November 2022 order to Boyd, commanding him to turn over a wide range of materials related to his newsgathering activities, his finances and those of his outlet, and any disciplinary actions against him. The subpoena demanded production of the documents by Dec. 12, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"5sr96\">A <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/investigative-outlet-subpoenaed-for-documents-in-securities-fraud-case/\">separate subpoena</a> to the Foundation for Financial Journalism on Oct. 27, 2022, asked the outlet to turn over similar information.</p><p data-block-key=\"13tmq\">Corcept also issued a Nov. 30, 2022, order seeking Boyd’s <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/financial-reporter-subpoenaed-for-testimony-in-securities-fraud-case/\">testimony</a> about topics listed in the two document subpoenas. Boyd filed a motion to quash that subpoena on Jan. 17, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, arguing that the information the defendants asked for was irrelevant to the lawsuit and protected by the First Amendment and the <a href=\"https://www.rcfp.org/introduction-to-the-reporters-privilege-compendium/\">reporter’s privilege</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7tsnv\">The motion to quash asserted that all parties to the suit agree that his article relied entirely on publicly available information, and that the subpoenas were merely “a transparent attempt to use the discovery process to chill Mr. Boyd’s speech.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1njil\">It also argued that the document subpoenas “make clear that Defendants do not know what they are looking for; rather, they are hoping to find something relevant to their case, while at the same time chilling journalists and others from further examination of Corcept’s business practices.”</p><p data-block-key=\"f8gbh\">On Feb. 13, Boyd <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927.11.0.pdf\">withdrew</a> his motion after Corcept dropped the deposition subpoena. U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz then <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927.12.0.pdf\">dismissed</a> the case Feb. 15.</p><p data-block-key=\"54g9u\">Boyd told the Tracker in an email that the subpoenas “were designed to harass an established, credible, non-profit news organization.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1nnuk\">He also noted that legal actions or threats against small media outlets triggered a requirement to notify their insurer. “This places the press organization in a much higher risk cohort,” Boyd added, “guaranteeing their premiums and deductibles rise the following year.”</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Boyd_Corcept_docs.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"20smj\">A portion of a subpoena issued on Nov. 16, 2022, to investigative journalist Roddy Boyd commanding him to turn over documents in a California securities fraud lawsuit. The case was dismissed in February 2023.</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": 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": "Federal", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "California", "abbreviation": "CA" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Roddy Boyd (Foundation for Financial Journalism)" ], "subpoena_statuses": null, "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Memphis news photographer, reporter robbed at gunpoint blocks from studio", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/memphis-news-photographer-reporter-robbed-at-gunpoint-blocks-from-studio/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-21T14:44:19.023475Z", "last_published_at": "2023-11-01T14:10:18.278902Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-11-01T14:10:18.167917Z", "date": "2022-11-10", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Memphis", "longitude": -90.04898, "latitude": 35.14953, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"zkkxz\">FOX13 reporter Jeremy Pierre and an unidentified news photographer were robbed at gunpoint half a mile from the station’s studio on Nov. 10, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"ekon\">Pierre <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/jeremypierrefox/posts/pfbid02CfApNSABBVi5MEAU5bdaXVUk6tGQjycpBVD67FTxdFLnR3W6WLCmYcQbd7fHBmJ4l\">posted on Facebook</a> shortly after 7 a.m. that the crew was robbed at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Highland Street.</p><p data-block-key=\"e2kcm\">“You know I’ve had my fair share of stories but DAMN!” Pierre wrote. “One of the dudes even showed me the gun in his waistband.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1q6q5\">According to the post, the thieves took the crew’s camera, tripod and LiveU equipment used to broadcast footage.</p><p data-block-key=\"9u4n8\">Pierre did not respond to a request for comment or to confirm the identity of the photojournalist with him. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented Pierre’s assault <a href=\"/all-incidents/memphis-broadcast-reporter-robbed-at-gunpoint-blocks-from-studio/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"3g61m\">FOX13 declined to comment when reached for comment. The Memphis Police Department did not respond to a request for additional information.</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": "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": "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": [ { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "camera" }, { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "camera equipment" }, { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "live unit" } ], "state": { "name": "Tennessee", "abbreviation": "TN" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "robbery" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault", "Equipment Damage" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Unidentified photojournalist 27 (WHBQ-TV)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Memphis broadcaster robbed at gunpoint blocks from studio", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/memphis-broadcast-reporter-robbed-at-gunpoint-blocks-from-studio/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-21T14:46:28.902544Z", "last_published_at": "2022-11-30T16:35:25.562537Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-11-30T16:35:25.486163Z", "date": "2022-11-10", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Memphis", "longitude": -90.04898, "latitude": 35.14953, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"u4t3q\">FOX13 reporter Jeremy Pierre and a news photographer were robbed at gunpoint half a mile from the station’s studio on Nov. 10, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"cpj61\">Pierre <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/jeremypierrefox/posts/pfbid02CfApNSABBVi5MEAU5bdaXVUk6tGQjycpBVD67FTxdFLnR3W6WLCmYcQbd7fHBmJ4l\">posted on Facebook</a> shortly after 7 a.m. that the crew was robbed at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Highland Street.</p><p data-block-key=\"7s1sa\">“You know I’ve had my fair share of stories but DAMN!” Pierre wrote. “One of the dudes even showed me the gun in his waistband.”</p><p data-block-key=\"e374b\">Pierre did not respond to a request for comment or to confirm the identity of the photojournalist with him. FOX13 declined to comment when reached for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"dktn1\">According to the post, the thieves took the crew’s camera, tripod and LiveU equipment used to broadcast footage. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented the assault of the photographer and equipment theft <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/memphis-news-photographer-reporter-robbed-at-gunpoint-blocks-from-studio/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"114ad\">The Memphis Police Department did not respond to a request for additional information.</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": "Tennessee", "abbreviation": "TN" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "robbery" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Jeremy Pierre (WHBQ-TV)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Ohio editor charged with wiretapping after publishing obtained court recording", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ohio-editor-charged-with-wiretapping-after-publishing-obtained-court-recording/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-08T21:27:20.582038Z", "last_published_at": "2024-08-12T19:38:13.520375Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2024-08-12T19:38:13.407023Z", "date": "2022-10-31", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Waverly", "longitude": -82.98546, "latitude": 39.12673, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"3dagt\">Scioto Valley Guardian Editor-in-Chief Derek Myers was charged with felony wiretapping on Oct. 31, 2022, after publishing a recording of witness testimony from an ongoing trial in Waverly, Ohio.</p><p data-block-key=\"21tb1\">Myers told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker he has been covering the murder trial of George Wagner IV, which began in September. As part of that coverage, the newspaper was using a laptop to livestream witness testimony and exhibits. Judge Randy Deering issued an order before the trial began allowing anyone testifying in the case to “opt out” of being filmed by the media. The Fourth District Court of Appeals <a href=\"https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2022/10/25/media-wins-temproary-order-in-wagner-trial-again/\">issued an emergency order</a> overruling him partway through the testimony of Wagner’s brother, Jake, who was indicted alongside Wagner and their parents for the 2016 killings of eight members of the Rhoden family.</p><p data-block-key=\"acfc0\">The court ordered that media be allowed to film unless Deering was able to show cause that it could jeopardize the fairness of the trial. Deering ruled that if Jake were to appear on camera he might be “nervous” and untruthful, again barring media from recording video or audio of him.</p><p data-block-key=\"dvko5\">Myers told the Tracker that he was out of the country when Jake took the stand, but that someone in the courtroom surreptitiously recorded his testimony and provided it to the Guardian. After deliberation, Myers published a <a href=\"https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2022/10/28/exclusive-listen-to-jake-wagner-describe-how-he-killed-the-rhoden-family/\">condensed version of the audio</a> on Oct. 28.</p><p data-block-key=\"867tg\">According to files reviewed by the Tracker, Judge Anthony Moraleja approved a search warrant that day for a Guardian laptop being used to livestream the trial. The Tracker documented the laptop seizure and the illegal seizure of Myers’ cellphone <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/editors-laptop-cellphone-seized-following-publication-of-courtroom-recording/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"9n7d4\">The Pike County Sheriff’s Office subsequently charged Myers with interception of wire, electronic or oral communications, a fourth degree felony. According to court records, he was charged under <a href=\"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2933.52\">Ohio Revised Code Section 2933.52 (A)(3)</a>, which forbids the use of a recording that one knows or has reason to believe was illegally obtained.</p><p data-block-key=\"a1l91\">Myers turned himself into custody on Nov. 1 and was released after paying a $20,000 bond. He told the Tracker that he pleaded not guilty at a hearing the following day. He also waived his right to a preliminary hearing, where evidence is presented before a judge who decides whether the case should advance to trial. Instead, his case will be heard by a grand jury, which will determine whether to indict him on the charges.</p><p data-block-key=\"8rpou\">When reached for comment, the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office told the Tracker that the next grand jury session is scheduled to begin in February 2023, when the new prosecutor takes office.</p><p data-block-key=\"e9thi\">One of Myers’ attorneys, John Greiner, highlighted the Supreme Court ruling in <a href=\"https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/575/bartnicki-v-vopper\">Bartnicki v. Vopper</a>, which ruled that the media cannot be held liable for publishing information that was obtained illegally by a source.</p><p data-block-key=\"75q5l\">The Committee to Protect Journalists, a founding partner of the Tracker, condemned the equipment seizure and the charges against Myers in a <a href=\"https://cpj.org/2022/11/cpj-alarmed-by-wiretapping-charges-against-ohio-newspaper-editor/\">statement</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"78fjl\">“The incompetency of local law enforcement to abide by basic legal proceedings would be comical if it were not so concerning,” said CPJ U.S. and Canada Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen. “Not only have Pike County authorities confiscated journalist Derek Myers’ cellphone and the Scioto Valley Guardian’s laptop without presenting a valid warrant, but they have also lobbed wiretapping charges against Myers for keeping the community informed about an ongoing murder trial. Retaliating against a news outlet, especially a small local publication, for doing their jobs in matters of public interest is completely unacceptable.”</p><p data-block-key=\"478r4\">Myers told the Tracker he hasn’t been able to cover the trial since his arrest.</p><p data-block-key=\"18n3h\">“I tasked myself with covering this eight-week trial and I should be there covering it, but I can’t because I don’t have the equipment,” Myers said. “And, frankly, I don’t feel safe in that courthouse. If I take another cellphone down there they’ll probably seize that too.”</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Myers3.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"vtosv\">Scioto Valley Guardian Editor-in-Chief Derek Myers was charged with felony wiretapping on Oct. 31, 2022, after publishing an obtained recording of testimony from an ongoing murder trial in Waverly, Ohio.</p>", "arresting_authority": "Pike County Sheriff's Office", "arrest_status": "arrested and released", "release_date": null, "detention_date": "2022-11-01", "unnecessary_use_of_force": false, "case_number": "2:23-cv-04102", "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": "State", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Ohio", "abbreviation": "OH" }, "updates": [ "(2023-08-14 13:11:00+00:00) Wiretapping charge against Ohio editor dropped after more than nine months", "(2023-12-14 00:00:00+00:00) Ohio journalist sues for constitutional violations during courthouse arrest" ], "case_statuses": [ "ongoing" ], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Arrest/Criminal Charge", "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Derek Myers (Scioto Valley Guardian)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Editor’s laptop, cellphone seized following publication of courtroom recording", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/editors-laptop-cellphone-seized-following-publication-of-courtroom-recording/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-08T20:51:03.315316Z", "last_published_at": "2025-02-05T19:55:31.537336Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2025-02-05T19:55:31.266169Z", "date": "2022-10-28", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Waverly", "longitude": -82.98546, "latitude": 39.12673, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ro9gy\">An Ohio judge authorized the search and seizure of a laptop belonging to the Scioto Valley Guardian on Oct. 28, 2022. An officer with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office also seized the cellphone of the outlet’s top editor — without a warrant — a few days later.</p><p data-block-key=\"e1706\">Guardian Editor-in-Chief Derek Myers told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker he has been covering the ongoing murder trial of George Wagner IV, which began in September. As part of that coverage, the newspaper was using a laptop to livestream witness testimony and exhibits. Judge Randy Deering issued an order before the trial began allowing anyone testifying in the case to “opt out” of being filmed by the media. The Fourth District Court of Appeals <a href=\"https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2022/10/25/media-wins-temproary-order-in-wagner-trial-again/\">issued an emergency order</a> overruling him partway through the testimony of Wagner’s brother, Jake, who was indicted alongside Wagner and their parents for the 2016 killings of eight members of the Rhoden family.</p><p data-block-key=\"f540\">The court ordered that media be allowed to film unless Deering was able to show cause that it could jeopardize the fairness of the trial. Deering ruled that if Jake were to appear on camera he might be “nervous” and untruthful, again barring media from recording video or audio of him.</p><p data-block-key=\"bfid0\">Myers told the Tracker that he was out of the country when Jake took the stand, but that someone in the courtroom surreptitiously recorded his testimony and provided it to the Guardian. After deliberation, Myers said he elected to move forward with publishing a <a href=\"https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2022/10/28/exclusive-listen-to-jake-wagner-describe-how-he-killed-the-rhoden-family/\">condensed version of the audio</a> on Oct. 28.</p><p data-block-key=\"bt687\">According to files reviewed by the Tracker, county court Judge Anthony Moraleja approved a search warrant for the Guardian laptop that same day, authorizing the search of the MacBook Pro and any computer software or communications contained on its hard drive. Myers told the Tracker someone from the court then seized the laptop, causing the outlet’s livestream to go down.</p><p data-block-key=\"52a\">One of Myers’ attorneys, Greg Barwell, sent a letter on Oct. 31 asking the sheriff, prosecutor and the court to return the equipment, as the Guardian had not been presented with a subpoena or search warrant.</p><p data-block-key=\"5ghii\">Myers went to the Pike County Courthouse on Nov. 2 to ask for the return of the laptop in person, as he still believed it had been seized by someone from the court. Unbeknownst to the Guardian, the laptop had been taken into custody by the sheriff’s office the previous day.</p><p data-block-key=\"eug4l\">Myers told the Tracker that when he passed through the metal detector, a captain from the sheriff’s department told him he would have to take his cellphone back outside. He responded that he wouldn’t be going into the courtroom — where cellphones and laptops are prohibited — but would be remaining on the first floor.</p><p data-block-key=\"aaog\">Myers said the officer then kept his cellphone, claiming, “On second thought, I think I have a search warrant for that.”</p><p data-block-key=\"5u35j\">The officer also told Myers that they had a search warrant for the laptop. The item seizure report reviewed by the Tracker has “Black I-Phone” written below the MacBook, confirming that it was seized at 10:29 a.m. on Nov. 2.</p><p data-block-key=\"39a8l\">One of Myers’ attorneys, John Greiner, told the Tracker that the seizure of the devices likely violated Ohio’s shield law and the federal Privacy Protection Act, which prohibits searching or seizing journalistic work products with few exceptions.</p><p data-block-key=\"4jhj2\">In connection with the publication of the testimony recording, Myers was charged with intercepting wire, oral or electronic communications — a fourth degree felony — on Oct. 31. The Tracker has documented those charges <a href=\"/all-incidents/ohio-editor-charged-with-wiretapping-after-publishing-obtained-court-recording/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"e23eq\">The Committee to Protect Journalists, a founding partner of the Tracker, condemned the equipment seizure and the charges against Myers in a <a href=\"https://cpj.org/2022/11/cpj-alarmed-by-wiretapping-charges-against-ohio-newspaper-editor/\">statement</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"82itq\">“The incompetency of local law enforcement to abide by basic legal proceedings would be comical if it were not so concerning,” said CPJ U.S. and Canada Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen. “Not only have Pike County authorities confiscated journalist Derek Myers’ cellphone and the Scioto Valley Guardian’s laptop without presenting a valid warrant, but they have also lobbed wiretapping charges against Myers for keeping the community informed about an ongoing murder trial. Retaliating against a news outlet, especially a small local publication, for doing their jobs in matters of public interest is completely unacceptable.”</p><p data-block-key=\"4gavo\">Myers told the Tracker that he was able to regain control over his cellphone number on Nov. 4, but having the devices returned remains his and his attorneys’ first priority. He said he was extremely concerned about the potential search of the devices as they contain sensitive work product and source communications</p><p data-block-key=\"9ed0j\">“I can’t effectively do my job because I’m so focused and scared and worried about all these other people and their livelihoods are now on the line,” Myers said. “And I can’t cover the trial because I don’t have the equipment.”</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Myers1.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"mlj5w\">On Oct. 28, 2022, an Ohio judge authorized the search and seizure of a Scioto Valley Guardian laptop, shown here in a screenshot from the search warrant, that the outlet was using to livestream a Waverly murder trial.</p>", "arresting_authority": null, "arrest_status": null, "release_date": null, "detention_date": null, "unnecessary_use_of_force": false, "case_number": "2:23-cv-04102", "case_type": "CIVIL", "status_of_seized_equipment": "returned in full", "is_search_warrant_obtained": true, "actor": "law enforcement", "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": "State", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [ { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "cellphone" }, { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "computer" } ], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Ohio", "abbreviation": "OH" }, "updates": [ "(2024-02-14 00:00:00+00:00) Files deleted from editor’s murder trial laptop", "(2023-12-14 00:00:00+00:00) Ohio journalist sues for constitutional violations during courthouse equipment seizure" ], "case_statuses": [ "ongoing" ], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Equipment Search or Seizure", "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Derek Myers (Scioto Valley Guardian)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Investigative outlet subpoenaed for documents in securities fraud case", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/investigative-outlet-subpoenaed-for-documents-in-securities-fraud-case/", "first_published_at": "2025-02-14T21:07:56.140819Z", "last_published_at": "2025-02-14T21:07:56.140819Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2025-02-14T21:07:56.052768Z", "date": "2022-10-27", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "San Francisco", "longitude": -122.41942, "latitude": 37.77493, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"0x5dz\">Investigative reporting outlet Foundation for Financial Journalism was subpoenaed to turn over documents on Oct. 27, 2022, in connection with a California securities fraud lawsuit, according to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"3640p\">The case was ultimately dismissed in February 2023 as part of settlement negotiations in the underlying fraud case.</p><p data-block-key=\"a4aaf\">In January 2019, founder and editor Roddy Boyd published an <a href=\"https://ffj-online.org/2019/01/25/corcept-therapeutics-the-company-that-perfectly-explains-the-health-care-crisis/\">article</a> through his Southern Investigative Reporting Foundation — <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/company/foundation-for-financial-journalism/\">renamed</a> the Foundation for Financial Journalism in 2020 — alleging that pharmaceutical company Corcept Therapeutics paid doctors to prescribe its drug Korlym for off-label uses.</p><p data-block-key=\"4keq9\">The revelations in Boyd’s article led to a decline in Corcept’s share price, company shareholders alleged in a securities fraud class-action <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.339504/gov.uscourts.cand.339504.1.0.pdf\">suit</a> filed two months later against the company and its top executives in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.</p><p data-block-key=\"c8pu1\">As part of its defense, Corcept subpoenaed the outlet in October 2022 — and Boyd on Nov. 16, 2022 — commanding the journalist to turn over a wide range of materials related to his newsgathering activities, his finances and those of his outlet, and any disciplinary actions against him. The outlet’s subpoena demanded production of the documents by Nov. 25, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"8nlkv\">Corcept also issued a Nov. 30, 2022, order seeking Boyd’s testimony about topics listed in the two document subpoenas. Boyd filed a motion to quash that subpoena on Jan. 17, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, arguing that the information the defendants asked for was irrelevant to the lawsuit and protected by the First Amendment and the <a href=\"https://www.rcfp.org/introduction-to-the-reporters-privilege-compendium/\">reporter’s privilege</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"2b6fo\">The motion to quash asserted that all parties to the suit agree that his article relied entirely on publicly available information, and that the subpoenas were merely “a transparent attempt to use the discovery process to chill Mr. Boyd’s speech.”</p><p data-block-key=\"9j181\">It also argued that the document subpoenas “make clear that Defendants do not know what they are looking for; rather, they are hoping to find something relevant to their case, while at the same time chilling journalists and others from further examination of Corcept’s business practices.”</p><p data-block-key=\"42jek\">On Feb. 13, Boyd <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927.11.0.pdf\">withdrew</a> his motion after Corcept dropped the deposition subpoena. U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz then <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927/gov.uscourts.flsd.626927.12.0.pdf\">dismissed</a> the case Feb. 15.</p><p data-block-key=\"72hgg\">Boyd told the Tracker in an email that the subpoenas “were designed to harass an established, credible, non-profit news organization.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b3d9i\">He also noted that legal actions or threats against small media outlets triggered a requirement to notify their insurer. “This places the press organization in a much higher risk cohort,” Boyd added, “guaranteeing their premiums and deductibles rise the following year.”</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/FFJ_Corcept.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"3kdyt\">A portion of a subpoena issued to investigative outlet Foundation for Financial Journalism on Oct. 27, 2022, commanding it to turn over documents in a California securities fraud lawsuit. The case was dismissed in February 2023.</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": 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": "Federal", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "California", "abbreviation": "CA" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "Foundation for Financial Journalism" ], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": null, "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "KC broadcast station subpoenaed for unaired interview footage", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/kc-broadcast-station-subpoenaed-for-unaired-interview-footage/", "first_published_at": "2022-12-07T20:07:49.626557Z", "last_published_at": "2023-06-29T16:10:50.977456Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-06-29T16:10:50.883548Z", "date": "2022-10-26", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Topeka", "longitude": -95.67804, "latitude": 39.04833, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"i2wbu\">Missouri-based broadcaster KMBC-TV was issued a subpoena on Oct. 26, 2022, seeking all recordings and notes from multiple interviews as part of a lawsuit accusing Kansas Highway Patrol of misconduct.</p><p data-block-key=\"1o8co\">Five women who are current or former highway patrol employees filed a lawsuit against the agency’s superintendent and assistant superintendent, as well as the State of Kansas, in February 2021. The Kansas City Star <a href=\"https://amp.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article269074932.html\">reported</a> that the women allege the agency had a hostile work environment, with a culture of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.</p><p data-block-key=\"97tip\">According to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the subpoena orders KMBC to produce any notes or audio or video recordings of interviews conducted with the plaintiffs, including outtakes and other unaired footage, by Nov. 14.</p><p data-block-key=\"cm88b\">It is unclear if KMBC, which did not respond to multiple requests for comment, has or intends to comply with the order. No motion to quash the subpoena had been filed with the court as of Dec. 7.</p><p data-block-key=\"7gare\">Gaye Tibbets, an attorney representing the state and the highway patrol officers, told the Star in mid-November that they were negotiating with KMBC over the subpoena, but did not elaborate on the content of the disputes.</p><p data-block-key=\"cvc09\">Tibbets did not respond to requests for further comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"7oqo0\">First Amendment attorney Max Kautsch, who is the president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, told the Star he was perplexed by the subpoena as it seeks documents that are explicitly protected by the state’s <a href=\"http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/060_000_0000_chapter/060_004_0000_article/060_004_0082_section/060_004_0082_k/\">shield law</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"1nd1b\">“The Legislature passed this law almost 15 years ago for the express purpose of insulating journalists from misguided attempts to bring journalists into court,” Kautsch said.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/KMBC_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"gpjjh\">A portion of the subpoena issued to Kansas City, Missouri, broadcaster KMBC-TV on Oct. 26, 2022, seeking all footage and notes from interviews with five plaintiffs suing the State of Kansas and two highway patrol officers.</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": null, "border_point": null, "target_us_citizenship_status": null, "denial_of_entry": false, "stopped_previously": false, "did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null, "did_authorities_ask_about_work": null, "assailant": null, "was_journalist_targeted": null, "charged_under_espionage_act": false, "subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product", "name_of_business": null, "third_party_business": null, "legal_order_venue": "Federal", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Kansas", "abbreviation": "KS" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "KMBC-TV" ], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": [ "pending" ], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Documentarian targeted with pepper spray while covering Penn State protest", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/documentarian-targeted-with-pepper-spray-while-covering-penn-state-protest/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-28T17:37:26.656525Z", "last_published_at": "2022-10-28T17:49:13.757578Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-10-28T17:49:13.701682Z", "date": "2022-10-24", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "State College", "longitude": -77.86, "latitude": 40.79339, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"k3iq7\">Ford Fischer, co-founder and editor-in-chief of News2Share, was targeted with a chemical irritant while documenting a protest at Pennsylvania State University in State College on Oct. 24, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"iobh\">Uncensored America, a recognized student organization, had arranged a <a href=\"http://uncensoredamerica.us/alex-and-gavin-psu/\">“politically provocative comedy night”</a> with Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes and comedian and “professional troll” Alex Stein. The Proud Boys are a far-right extremist group, <a href=\"https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys\">designated as a hate group</a> by the Southern Poverty Law Center, whose members self-identify as Western chauvinists and are known to instigate street brawls. The show’s title, “Stand Back &amp; Stand By,” echoed the directive then-President Donald Trump gave to members of the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate.</p><p data-block-key=\"crige\">The Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, which is not a recognized student group, organized a protest to begin at 6 p.m. in opposition to the event, <a href=\"https://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/they-did-nothing-penn-state-students-protesters-gather-in-opposition-of-uncensored-america-event/article_53ab3752-540c-11ed-8e6d-87622ca72dd1.html\">according to the university newspaper, The Daily Collegian</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"4aorg\">Fischer told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that at various points during the student-led protest Proud Boy members arrived to escalate the conflict. Stein also came out of the event venue to antagonize the protesters before ultimately returning inside, he said.</p><p data-block-key=\"8b786\">Shortly before 7 p.m., about five or six apparent right-wingers were arguing with the protesters around them, Fischer said. In <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1584904927234719745\">footage of the incident</a>, the men all appear to be wearing dark jackets, khakis and face coverings or balaclavas.</p><p data-block-key=\"5met7\">One of the men unholstered a can of pepper spray and began aiming it at everyone standing nearby, which Fischer said included both student protesters and members of the press. Another member of the group then grabbed the canister and sprayed it in a circular motion.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">SYNCHRONIZED: Footage by both <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FordFischer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FordFischer</a> and <a href=\"https://twitter.com/zdroberts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@zdroberts</a> shows the moment a right-winger pepper sprayed protesters and press on Penn State’s campus last night before police standing by allowed them to leave. <a href=\"https://t.co/Wzt4q5FNjX\">pic.twitter.com/Wzt4q5FNjX</a></p>&mdash; Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1584904927234719745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 25, 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=\"k3iq7\">Fischer said that he was one of the last people sprayed and that he believed he was deliberately targeted.</p><p data-block-key=\"4evnp\">“I’ve been maced, but I have never, ever ever felt the kind of pain and directness that that had, where it was straight into my eye,” he said. “There’s no way that it wouldn’t have been intentional: He had to have known I was press.”<br/><br/>Fischer said he was wearing press credentials issued by Congress and the National Press Photographers Association and was filming with a conspicuous professional camera with a phone mounted on it.</p><p data-block-key=\"eauju\">“I was completely debilitated. I was in absolute, unbearable pain for about half an hour,” Fischer said. He added that multiple students and other members of the press came to his aid, but the officers who witnessed the attack neither attempted to apprehend the individual nor asked him for a statement.</p><p data-block-key=\"fskev\">At least one other journalist, freelance photojournalist Zach Roberts, was also targeted with the chemical irritant. The Tracker has documented that incident <a href=\"/all-incidents/photojournalist-targeted-with-pepper-spray-while-covering-penn-state-protest/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"f5d4c\"><a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/10/25/penn-state-gavin-mcinnes-proud-boys-canceled/\">According to The Washington Post</a>, students had petitioned the university ahead of the event to cancel it. In a <a href=\"https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/university-critical-upcoming-speakers-repugnant-and-denigrating-rhetoric/\">statement</a> released on Oct. 11, the administration initially said it would allow the event to take place on the basis of upholding freedom of speech. Citing escalating violence, the university ultimately canceled the event less than an hour before its scheduled start time, notifying students through the university’s alert system at 7:19 p.m., <a href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/epzqww/penn-state-proud-boys-gavin-mcinnes\">according to VICE News</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"209tm\">When reached for comment, the university directed the Tracker to various statements released before and after the event was canceled.</p><p data-block-key=\"786tg\">“Tonight, Stein and McInnes will celebrate a victory for being canceled, when in actuality, they contributed to the very violence that compromised their ability to speak,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in a <a href=\"https://www.psu.edu/news/campus-life/story/message-president-neeli-bendapudi-cancellation-campus-event/\">statement</a>. “Tonight, counter-protestors also will celebrate a victory that they forced the University to cancel this event, when in actuality they have furthered the visibility of the very cause they oppose.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2q34o\">A <a href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vc4ut8yR50I7HldweUV3ogTMSE5-Kc4s/view?usp=sharing\">statement</a> released by the event organizers, Uncensored America, the following day condemned the violence.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Fischer.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"vlqru\">“I was completely debilitated.” Documentarian Ford Fischer was targeted with a chemical irritant while covering a protest against an event with the Proud Boys founder at Penn State University on Oct. 24, 2022.</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": 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": "Pennsylvania", "abbreviation": "PA" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "chemical irritant", "protest", "white nationalism" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Ford Fischer (News2Share)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Photojournalist targeted with pepper spray while covering Penn State protest", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalist-targeted-with-pepper-spray-while-covering-penn-state-protest/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-28T17:48:11.517280Z", "last_published_at": "2022-10-28T17:48:11.517280Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-10-28T17:48:11.423101Z", "date": "2022-10-24", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "State College", "longitude": -77.86, "latitude": 40.79339, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"u1vgc\">Freelance photojournalist Zach Roberts was targeted with a chemical irritant while documenting a protest at Pennsylvania State University in State College on Oct. 24, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"fqiuc\">Uncensored America, a recognized student organization, had arranged a <a href=\"http://uncensoredamerica.us/alex-and-gavin-psu/\">“politically provocative comedy night”</a> with Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes and comedian and “professional troll” Alex Stein. The Proud Boys are a far-right extremist group, <a href=\"https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/proud-boys\">designated as a hate group</a> by the Southern Poverty Law Center, whose members self-identify as Western chauvinists and are known to instigate street brawls. The show’s title, “Stand Back &amp; Stand By,” echoed the directive then-President Donald Trump gave to members of the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate.</p><p data-block-key=\"o82p\">The Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity, which is not a recognized student group, organized a protest to begin at 6 p.m. in opposition to the event, <a href=\"https://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/they-did-nothing-penn-state-students-protesters-gather-in-opposition-of-uncensored-america-event/article_53ab3752-540c-11ed-8e6d-87622ca72dd1.html\">according to the university paper, The Daily Collegian</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"s6lk\">Roberts told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he had registered to attend the event but never received additional information about how to enter the venue and was only able to cover the student-led demonstration outside.</p><p data-block-key=\"7drm4\">Shortly before 7 p.m., protesters surrounded about five or six apparent right-wingers and attempted to force them to leave, Roberts said. In <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1584904927234719745\">footage of the incident</a>, the men all appear to be wearing dark jackets, khakis, face coverings or balaclavas.</p><p data-block-key=\"8gf5h\">“One guy pulled out a can of bear mace and started threatening people with it,” Roberts said. “I moved closer — like an idiot — to where it was happening.”</p><p data-block-key=\"801k\">Roberts said that law enforcement was notified by a protester that someone was threatening people with the pepper spray, but no immediate action was taken.</p><p data-block-key=\"dlmtk\">Less than a minute later, a second man grabbed the canister and sprayed those standing near them, including Roberts, who was wearing a press badge.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Well got peppersprayed by a Proud Boy. Several other media got direct hit. Thankfully it hit my glasses but my face and body is burning like the worst sunburn. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/PennState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PennState</a> campus cops watched and did nothing. <a href=\"https://t.co/d1q0SJKkSL\">pic.twitter.com/d1q0SJKkSL</a></p>&mdash; Zach D Roberts - Photojournalist for hire (@zdroberts) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/zdroberts/status/1584683092807020544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 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=\"u1vgc\">“He knew that half the people around him were press, we all had cameras out,” Roberts said. “There’s no way he sprayed Ford [Fischer], with that big video camera and a tripod, and not known that he’s a member of the media.”</p><p data-block-key=\"csl6n\">The Tracker documented the assault of documentarian Ford Fischer <a href=\"/all-incidents/documentarian-targeted-with-pepper-spray-while-covering-penn-state-protest/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"36t8j\">Roberts said that his glasses protected his eyes and he quickly removed everything that was struck by the spray in order to rinse off the chemical irritant. Despite his efforts, his arms burned throughout the evening.</p><p data-block-key=\"91jlm\">“I had to stop talking at times and focus on the pain,” Roberts said. “There were certain moments where it was too painful to pick up my cameras. I could literally see blisters forming where the bear mace hit me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"a4ecu\"><a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/10/25/penn-state-gavin-mcinnes-proud-boys-canceled/\">According to The Washington Post</a>, students had petitioned the university ahead of the event to cancel it. In a <a href=\"https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/university-critical-upcoming-speakers-repugnant-and-denigrating-rhetoric/\">statement</a> released on Oct. 11, the administration initially said it would allow the event to take place on the basis of upholding freedom of speech. Citing escalating violence, the university ultimately canceled the event less than an hour before its scheduled start time, notifying students through the university’s alert system at 7:19 p.m., <a href=\"https://www.vice.com/en/article/epzqww/penn-state-proud-boys-gavin-mcinnes\">according to VICE News</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"a3h74\">When reached for comment, the university directed the Tracker to various statements released before and after the event was canceled.</p><p data-block-key=\"4nta3\">“Tonight, Stein and McInnes will celebrate a victory for being canceled, when in actuality, they contributed to the very violence that compromised their ability to speak,” Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said in a <a href=\"https://www.psu.edu/news/campus-life/story/message-president-neeli-bendapudi-cancellation-campus-event/\">statement</a>. “Tonight, counter-protestors also will celebrate a victory that they forced the University to cancel this event, when in actuality they have furthered the visibility of the very cause they oppose.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1fd8o\">A <a href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vc4ut8yR50I7HldweUV3ogTMSE5-Kc4s/view?usp=sharing\">statement</a> released by the event organizers, Uncensored America, the following day condemned the violence.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Roberts.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"b53o9\">Freelance photojournalist Zach Roberts receives treatment after being sprayed with bear mace during a protest against an event at Penn State University featuring the Proud Boys founder on Oct. 24, 2022.</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": 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": "Pennsylvania", "abbreviation": "PA" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "chemical irritant", "protest", "white nationalism" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Zach Roberts (Freelance)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Journalist harassed, shoved while covering protest in Texas", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-journalist-harassed-shoved-while-covering-anti-lgbtq-protest-in-texas/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-28T15:58:38.147471Z", "last_published_at": "2023-11-13T21:18:58.328443Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-11-13T21:18:58.243945Z", "date": "2022-10-22", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "University Park", "longitude": -96.80028, "latitude": 32.85013, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"5i5dm\">Independent journalist Steven Monacelli was assaulted while documenting a protest in University Park, Texas, on Oct. 22, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"crbnq\">Monacelli, who reports on extremism, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that the protest in Coffee Park was organized by a group that often attracts individuals connected to extremist groups and militias. That day’s demonstration was planned against a judge who granted full custody to a Texas mother advocating for her child’s transgender identity.</p><p data-block-key=\"cnomb\">Shortly after he arrived at the park, a protest organizer recognized Monacelli and singled him out by name. The organizer claimed Monacelli, who had his press credentials in his pocket, was an “antifa journalist.” Monacelli told the Tracker another individual called him an antisemitic slur.</p><p data-block-key=\"ceul7\">“They wanted to make me feel unwelcome and in fact, explicitly said so,” Monacelli said.</p><p data-block-key=\"2sbb0\">After deciding the event was unsafe, Monacelli started walking away but noticed a woman following him. In a video he posted on Twitter, Monacelli asks the woman to stop following him when a man comes by and shoves him. Monacelli told the Tracker he recognized the man from a September protest in Plano.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NOW: I&#39;ve just been assaulted at a Coffee Park in Dallas, Texas, by a man who has previously threatened me at a protest. He came up to me without provocation, pushed me twice, and was escorted away by the police who were less than 10 yards away. I&#39;m safe and unharmed. <a href=\"https://t.co/4Q4dnxOv8y\">pic.twitter.com/4Q4dnxOv8y</a></p>&mdash; steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/stevanzetti/status/1583893965061099520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 22, 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=\"5i5dm\">“He walked up to me and very quickly got in my face and started threatening me, claiming I had doxxed him,” he said. “I told him not to touch me, but he shoved me again and continued to threaten me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"8pre8\">Monacelli said officers from the University Park Police Department who were nearby intervened and escorted the individual away.</p><p data-block-key=\"fc3n5\">University Park Police Chief Bill Mathes told the Tracker the individual had been cited for assault and the case was referred to the municipal court for disposition.</p><p data-block-key=\"74snc\">Monacelli said he later received a call from a detective investigating the case. But the assault made it impossible to continue reporting that day.</p><p data-block-key=\"e516k\">“Within five minutes of arriving, I had been singled out, called an antisemitic slur and assaulted,” Monacelli said. “Unfortunately, the story ended up being that I got assaulted and not anything about the protest itself.”</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": "Texas", "abbreviation": "TX" }, "updates": [ "(2023-05-17 00:00:00+00:00) Man fined for assaulting independent journalist" ], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "LGBTQ+ rights", "protest" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Steven Monacelli (Independent)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Investigative reporter subpoenaed in lawsuit against Maui County, officer", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/investigative-reporter-subpoenaed-in-lawsuit-against-maui-county-officer/", "first_published_at": "2022-12-12T22:07:28.870034Z", "last_published_at": "2024-07-11T17:16:09.114975Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2024-07-11T17:16:09.006508Z", "date": "2022-10-13", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Honolulu", "longitude": -157.85833, "latitude": 21.30694, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"uef5w\">Lynn Kawano, the chief investigative reporter for Hawaii News Now, was issued a subpoena on Oct. 13, 2022, seeking communications and testimony in connection with an ongoing lawsuit before the District Court of Hawaii in Honolulu.</p><p data-block-key=\"732um\">Three women filed a lawsuit against a Maui Police Department officer and Maui County alleging the officer abused his position of power to coerce them into having sex with him, <a href=\"https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/11/maui-county-alleges-this-tv-news-reporter-crossed-a-line-in-covering-a-case-of-police-misconduct/\">according to Honolulu Civil Beat</a>. Kawano <a href=\"https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/08/21/maui-officer-under-investigation-inappropriately-reaching-out-woman-he-arrested/\">first</a> <a href=\"https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/08/22/second-woman-comes-forth-alleging-maui-officer-tried-bribe-her-sex/\">reported</a> on the allegations in August 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"1fmus\">According to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the county sent a <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.hid.162546/gov.uscourts.hid.162546.1.9.pdf\">letter to Kawano’s attorneys</a> that alleged that Kawano stepped outside of her role as a journalist and acted as an adviser to the women, suggesting they contact attorney Michael Green.</p><p data-block-key=\"6grib\">“It is clear that Ms. Kawano has not confined herself to news gathering, but has become an advisor to the plaintiffs,” the letter stated.</p><p data-block-key=\"8ddm\">Neither Kawano nor Hawaii News Now responded to emailed requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"fvedc\">The county issued Kawano a subpoena for documents and testimony on Oct. 13, but did not serve her the court order until Oct. 25, according to court filings. The subpoena orders Kawano to produce her communications with Green and the three women, as well as any “attorney referral agreement or client referral agreement” between Kawano and Green or his law firm.</p><p data-block-key=\"dh421\">Bruce Voss, Kawano’s attorney, sent an objection letter to the county on Oct. 31 stating that in addition to not serving the subpoena with sufficient time before the deposition date of Nov. 1, that Kawano’s communications are protected by journalist’s privilege.</p><p data-block-key=\"af1v8\">The county <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.hid.162546/gov.uscourts.hid.162546.1.3.pdf\">reissued the subpoena</a> on Nov. 9, ordering Kawano to produce the same collection of documents and to appear for a deposition on Dec. 1. According to court documents, Voss filed a motion to quash the subpoena on Kawano’s behalf on Nov. 26.</p><p data-block-key=\"b6tkk\">“HNN can only surmise that the County of Maui is attempting to establish some nefarious plot (that does not exist) for the purposes of distracting from some very bad facts in this case,” the motion states. “Ms. Kawano, as a journalist, is not a discovery depot for the County of Maui.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2dqbm\">Voss declined to comment when reached by email, citing the pending motion to quash. A hearing on the motion has been scheduled for Jan. 5, 2023.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Kawano_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"mfvza\">A portion of the subpoena issued to Hawaii News Now investigative reporter Lynn Kawano as part of an ongoing lawsuit three women brought against Maui County and a Maui police officer alleging coercion and sexual harassment.</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": null, "border_point": null, "target_us_citizenship_status": null, "denial_of_entry": false, "stopped_previously": false, "did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null, "did_authorities_ask_about_work": null, "assailant": null, "was_journalist_targeted": null, "charged_under_espionage_act": false, "subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product", "name_of_business": null, "third_party_business": null, "legal_order_venue": "Federal", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Hawaii", "abbreviation": "HI" }, "updates": [ "(2023-01-20 14:27:00+00:00) Judge quashes subpoena of Hawaii investigative reporter" ], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Lynn Kawano (Hawaii News Now)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [ "quashed" ], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Boston Globe editor subpoenaed for testimony in Harvard admissions bribery case", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/boston-globe-editor-subpoenaed-for-testimony-in-harvard-admissions-bribery-case/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-09T18:53:58.972581Z", "last_published_at": "2025-01-06T14:57:56.491301Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2025-01-06T14:57:56.339203Z", "date": "2022-10-11", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Boston", "longitude": -71.05977, "latitude": 42.35843, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"h6viq\">Boston Globe journalist Joshua Miller was subpoenaed for testimony as part of a Harvard University admissions scandal criminal case in Boston, Massachusetts, on Oct. 11, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"2v6c8\">In April 2019, Miller, now the Globe’s politics editor, broke the story of<a href=\"https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/04/04/bought-fencing-coach-house-then-his-son-got-into-harvard/EIWVMIxUFQ1XweY1xfB1GK/story.html?event=event12&amp;p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link\"> bribes allegedly paid to Harvard’s fencing coach</a>, Peter Brand, by Maryland businessman Jie Zhao. According to the Globe, Zhao purchased Brand’s house at nearly twice its value. In return, Brand allegedly helped facilitate Harvard admission for Zhao’s two sons by recruiting them to the university’s fencing team.</p><p data-block-key=\"duacu\">Two months after the Globe published the story, the Department of Justice <a href=\"https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/06/18/bought-fencing-coach-house-then-his-son-got-into-harvard-now-feds-are-asking-questions/SefCGoT7IswTCfA8CrHqRJ/story.html?p1=Article_Inline_Text_Link\">launched a grand jury inquiry</a>. Brand and Zhao were <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-harvard-fencing-coach-and-maryland-businessman-indicted-bribery-charges\">formally indicted</a> on federal bribery charges in 2020.</p><p data-block-key=\"d9ir\">Globe legal counsel Jonathan M. Albano <a href=\"https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/11/04/metro/globe-challenges-subpoena-reporters-work-harvard-admissions-scandal/\">challenged the 2022 subpoena</a> for Miller’s testimony in a Nov. 3 motion to quash, arguing that it’s not vital to the government’s case.</p><p data-block-key=\"b16sk\">Albano requested that the judge instead issue a protective order for an in-camera review of Miller&#x27;s recorded interview with Zhao. In a written declaration submitted to the court, Miller stated that testifying would force him to disclose confidential sources he felt “duty-bound to protect” and could have a negative impact on future reporting.</p><p data-block-key=\"gedd\">“I believe this will inhibit sources from speaking to me in the future because they will not trust that our conversations will exclusively be used for news reporting,” Miller stated. “I believe they will speak less frankly to me, or not speak to me at all, since they may fear that what they tell me will become something I will later testify about in criminal or civil litigation.”</p><p data-block-key=\"545vb\">Neither Miller nor Albano responded to requests for comment from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"c8cmb\">On Nov. 8, the DOJ filed an opposition to the motion to quash, claiming only Miller can provide first-hand knowledge of Zhao’s statements to him. The federal bribery trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 5.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Screen_Shot_2022-11-07_at_2.42.48.a3f41b0b.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ed046\">A portion of the subpoena issued to Boston Globe editor Joshua Miller seeking testimony in a federal bribery case connected to a Harvard admissions scandal. — SCREENSHOT</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": 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": "other testimony", "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": "Massachusetts", "abbreviation": "MA" }, "updates": [ "(2022-12-13 14:45:00+00:00) Boston Globe editor compelled to testify in Harvard admissions bribery case" ], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Joshua Miller (Boston Globe)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [ "carried out" ], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "KC photographer shoved to ground by NFL player after game", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photographer-shoved-to-ground-by-nfl-player-after-game-in-kc/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-14T14:04:01.367425Z", "last_published_at": "2025-02-07T15:28:39.981687Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2025-02-07T15:28:39.787546Z", "date": "2022-10-10", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Kansas City", "longitude": -94.57857, "latitude": 39.09973, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"tck70\">Photographer Park Zebley was shoved to the ground by Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams after a Monday Night Football game in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 10, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"339mp\">In footage published by SportsCenter and shared widely, Adams can be seen pushing Zebley with two hands following a 30-29 Raiders loss.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Davante Adams was visibly upset after the Raiders’ loss to the Chiefs. <a href=\"https://t.co/XW2fmx6adJ\">pic.twitter.com/XW2fmx6adJ</a></p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1579682203339960320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 11, 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=\"tck70\">When reached by email, Zebley declined to comment and referred the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker to his attorney, Dan Curry. Curry said Zebley is a college student who had just started working for a local production company that provides content to ESPN. He did not identify the name of the production company.</p><p data-block-key=\"alebj\">In a written statement, Curry said it was the photographer’s first day on the job and he had been given the task of carrying equipment for a camera operator.</p><p data-block-key=\"beva\">After arranging transportation to the hospital, Zebley filed a police report with the Kansas City Police Department. In an emailed statement to the Tracker, a KCPD spokesperson said Zebley’s injuries were thought to be non-life threatening and the incident is being investigated.</p><p data-block-key=\"b2ciu\">Zebley’s attorney confirmed that the photographer suffered a headache, whiplash and was still recovering from a concussion.</p><p data-block-key=\"lcv9\">After the incident, Adams apologized for his behavior, saying he was frustrated by the loss and was surprised when Zebley “jumped” in front of him, ESPN <a href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34772685/raiders-davante-adams-pushes-person-postgame-apologizes\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"e7p85\">A Kansas City Municipal Court public information officer told the Tracker that Adams was charged with assault under a city ordinance on Oct. 12. According to the<a href=\"https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORKAMIVOII_CH50OFMIPR_ARTVOFAGPUPE_S50-169SANF\"> ordinance</a>, he faces up to six months of jail time or a fine of up to $500. The citation, also shared with the Tracker by KCPD, identifies him as Ryan Zebley. His attorney said Park is his name.</p><p data-block-key=\"7qdae\">The Raiders receiver is also facing possible suspension from the NFL, <a href=\"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34782109/davante-adams-charged-misdemeanor-assault-mnf-shove\">according to ESPN</a>. He is scheduled to appear in Kansas City Municipal Court on Nov. 10.</p><p data-block-key=\"9r57e\">“What happened was egregiously unsportsmanlike and an act of violence that should not be excused by the NFL,” Zebley said in a statement provided by his attorney.</p><p data-block-key=\"1o87\"></p><p data-block-key=\"53smb\"><i>Editor’s note: The article was updated with a clarifying statement from a Kansas City Municipal Court public information officer around the type of assault. Davante Adams was charged under a city ordinance, not a state statute as previously reported.</i></p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/AP22284078472997.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"1csqq\">Wide receiver Davante Adams, at left, in Kansas City, Missouri, on October 10, 2022. Adams, then playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, pushed photographer Park Zebley to the ground after the Raiders’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.</p>", "arresting_authority": null, "arrest_status": null, "release_date": null, "detention_date": null, "unnecessary_use_of_force": false, "case_number": "2316-CV11878", "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": "public figure", "was_journalist_targeted": "unknown", "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": "Missouri", "abbreviation": "MO" }, "updates": [ "(2023-06-05 12:09:00+00:00) Assault charge dropped against NFL player who shoved photographer", "(2025-02-05 00:00:00+00:00) Photographer settles suit against NFL player", "(2023-05-02 11:01:00+00:00) Photographer files lawsuit against NFL player, teams following assault" ], "case_statuses": [ "settled" ], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Park Zebley (Unidentified production company)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Jewish newspaper boxes vandalized in Queens", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/jewish-newspaper-boxes-vandalized-in-queens/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-25T15:56:04.755581Z", "last_published_at": "2022-10-27T20:59:45.010793Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-10-27T20:59:44.873325Z", "date": "2022-10-06", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "New York", "longitude": -74.00597, "latitude": 40.71427, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"oz3r6\">Several newspaper boxes distributing Jewish publications in Queens, New York, were defaced with swastikas on Oct. 6, 2022, while the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur.</p><p data-block-key=\"etm1i\">Bukharian Jewish Link freelance journalist Steven Saphirstein told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker he discovered the vandalized boxes outside of Aron’s Kissena Farms on Oct. 7 while distributing papers. Aron’s, the largest kosher grocery store in Queens, was closed at the time of the incident. Saphirstein told the Tracker he met with detectives after reporting the incident.</p><p data-block-key=\"9to70\">The targeted boxes contained Jewish newspapers including the <a href=\"https://www.queensjewishlink.com/\">Queens Jewish Link</a>, the <a href=\"https://www.bukharianjewishlink.com/\">Bukharian Jewish Link</a> and the <a href=\"http://www.5tjt.com/\">Five Towns Jewish Times</a>. Yaakov Serle, publisher for the Queens and Bukharian Jewish Links, told the Tracker that the newspapers were still able to publish normally that day.</p><p data-block-key=\"12tis\">“We were very fortunate,” Serle said. “Everybody came together, and – by shopping time — it was all gone.”</p><p data-block-key=\"14omf\">Serle said several community members teamed up to clean the newspaper boxes before Aron’s opened for the day. He credits Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal, Saphirstein and local Jewish groups Chaverim and Shmira with playing an instrumental role in the cleanup.</p><p data-block-key=\"20smk\">In a statement to the Chronicle, Rosenthal said that while no one was physically harmed by the attack, the antisemitism distressed residents who were fed up with the broken sense of security and seeking action.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, newspapers racks distributing Jewish publications were vandalized with swastikas.<br><br>We must be able to feel safe in our neighborhoods. We must do more. The continued rise of antisemitism is unsustainable and unacceptable. <a href=\"https://t.co/WCz5wrRGar\">pic.twitter.com/WCz5wrRGar</a></p>&mdash; Daniel Rosenthal (@DanRosenthalNYC) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DanRosenthalNYC/status/1577912102391521282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 6, 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=\"oz3r6\">“On the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, newspaper racks distributing Jewish publications were vandalized with swastikas,” Rosenthal wrote on <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DanRosenthalNYC/status/1577912102391521282?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet\">Twitter</a>. “We must be able to feel safe in our neighborhoods. We must do more. The continued rise of antisemitism is unsustainable and unacceptable.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2tm4f\">The New York Police Department did not respond to a request for comment by the Tracker, but Rosenthal told the Chronicle that officers are reviewing security camera footage from neighboring businesses.</p><p data-block-key=\"oqdb\"></p><p data-block-key=\"4tuco\"><i>Editor&#x27;s note: The article was updated to include information from Steven Saphirstein and his correct title.</i></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": 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": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "Media" ], "tags": [ "white nationalism" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Other Incident" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Journalist gains access to Arizona county news conferences following suit", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-gains-access-to-arizona-county-news-conferences-following-suit/", "first_published_at": "2024-06-04T14:12:09.454517Z", "last_published_at": "2024-10-11T16:41:22.045472Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-11T16:41:21.949695Z", "date": "2022-09-30", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Phoenix", "longitude": -112.07404, "latitude": 33.44838, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"h8kn0\">Reporter Jordan Conradson of The Gateway Pundit settled a lawsuit that alleged he was wrongly denied press credentials on Sept. 30, 2022, by Maricopa County, Arizona. In the April 2023 settlement, the country agreed to pay The Gateway Pundit $175,000, and Conradson gained access to the county’s news conferences.</p><p data-block-key=\"dl89j\">On Sept. 27, 2022, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors <a href=\"https://elections.maricopa.gov/news-and-information/elections-news/maricopa-county-forms-elections-command-center-to-share-info-with-voters-combat-disinformation.html\">announced</a> that ahead of the November general election, media would be required to apply for press credentials through an online form in order to attend news conferences, part of an elections initiative designed to “combat disinformation.”</p><p data-block-key=\"des4t\">The move came in the wake of the 2020 election, whose results were <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/1000043000/2020s-general-election-is-over-but-counting-continues-in-arizona\">hotly contested</a> by the Republican-led state Senate after Democrats won races in the county for both the presidency and the U.S. Senate. Outside groups aligned with the losing presidential candidate, incumbent Donald Trump, <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/us/arizona-republicans-release-findings-widely-panned-election-audit-2021-09-24/\">poured millions of dollars</a> into fraud investigation efforts in the county, although the certified results of the vote were ultimately confirmed.</p><p data-block-key=\"dj82h\">Conradson, a <a href=\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/08/breaking-maricopa-county-election-day-incompetence-printers-not-working-voters-told-already-voted-polling-locations-not-seen-azsos-webpage/\">frequent</a> <a href=\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/09/breaking-maricopa-county-creates-ministry-truth-silence-gateway-pundit-now-requiring-official-press-pass-media-enter-facilities-cover-events-related-2022-ge/\">purveyor</a> of these fraud allegations, submitted an application for press credentials to Maricopa County. In a Sept. 30 email reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, the county notified Conradson that his application had been denied because “You (a) do not avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest and (b) are not free of associations that would compromise journalistic integrity or damage credibility. Therefore, you are not a bona fide correspondent of repute in your profession.”</p><p data-block-key=\"amm\">On Nov. 10, Conradson appealed the decision via email and an attorney sent a <a href=\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/11/exclusive-tgp-sends-cease-desist-letter-maricopa-county-suing-yesterdays-attack-journalists/\">cease and desist letter</a> to the county on his behalf demanding that he be allowed to attend the county’s news conferences. On Nov. 12, the journalist and the outlet <a href=\"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65751582/tgp-communications-llc-v-sellers/\">filed a federal suit</a> against a group of county officials, alleging that Conradson’s First Amendment rights had been violated and applying for an emergency temporary restraining order against the county.</p><p data-block-key=\"6bgtl\">On Nov. 23, the court <a href=\"https://reason.com/volokh/2022/11/23/court-rules-against-the-gateway-pundit-in-request-for-press-pass/\">denied</a> the temporary restraining order request, rejecting the plaintiffs’ arguments that the county’s rules were overly vague and the procedure lacked due process.</p><p data-block-key=\"bfoja\">While the county’s use of “criteria for ethical reporting” to determine who could attend news conferences was “problematic insofar as it invites the government to play a role in policing the free press, whose constitutionally protected function is to hold the government to account,” the court wrote, the restrictions seemed reasonable and did not discriminate against Conradson on the basis of his political views.</p><p data-block-key=\"etndp\">The plaintiffs <a href=\"https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66681719/tgp-communications-llc-v-jack-sellers/\">appealed</a> the ruling on Nov. 28 and requested an injunction pending an order on their appeal. On Dec. 5, the appeals court granted the injunction, ordering the county to issue Conradson temporary press credentials while his appeal was pending.</p><p data-block-key=\"1jnh0\">“It is the County’s politically-tinged assessment of Conradson’s prior reporting that appears to have led it to deny him a press pass,” the court wrote. “That type of viewpoint-based discrimination is exactly what the First Amendment protects against.”</p><p data-block-key=\"4kuvh\">The appeal over a more permanent press pass for Conradson continued for several months, with oral arguments taking place in January 2023. On April 12, KPNX <a href=\"https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/maricopa-county-agrees-pay-175k-gateway-pundit-conradson-pundit/75-8531c357-e73b-4af3-bb94-d0f2c6292dc9\">reported</a> that the parties had settled, with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approving a settlement award to The Gateway Pundit. On April 28, the parties dismissed the federal suit and appeal.</p><p data-block-key=\"6cs18\">“This is a major win for The Gateway Pundit and independent media in America today,” The Gateway Pundit wrote in <a href=\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/04/major-news-the-gateway-pundit-wins-historic-first-amendment-lawsuit-maricopa-county-board-of-supervisors-agrees-to-settlement/\">its report</a> on the settlement. “It sets precedent for independent journalists of merit to gain access to government press briefings. We cannot adequately express the importance of this decision.”</p><p data-block-key=\"8ivap\">The outlet and Conradson did not respond to a request from the Tracker for further comment. While reports on the settlement do not mention whether Conradson received county press credentials, Conradson’s <a href=\"https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/author/jordanc/\">bio</a> on the outlet’s website says that he “finally gained access” to the Maricopa County press room.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/RTSD4GS2_-_Reuters_-_Jim_Urquhart.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"wqnmr\">The chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona speaks to the media in November 2022, as the county tabulated the general election results. Reporter Jordan Conradson sued the county that month for denying him press credentials.</p>", "arresting_authority": null, "arrest_status": null, "release_date": null, "detention_date": null, "unnecessary_use_of_force": false, "case_number": "2:22-cv-01925", "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": "Arizona", "abbreviation": "AZ" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [ "settled" ], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "election" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [ "Local government: Legislature" ], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Denial of Access" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Jordan Conradson (The Gateway Pundit)" ], "subpoena_statuses": null, "type_of_denial": [ "Press credential or media list" ] }, { "title": "Fast Company disables website after cyberattack results in ‘vile’ push alerts, posts", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/fast-company-disables-website-after-cyberattack-results-in-vile-push-alerts-posts/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-04T18:58:25.610369Z", "last_published_at": "2022-10-06T23:01:52.196655Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-10-06T23:01:52.116613Z", "date": "2022-09-25", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "New York", "longitude": -74.00597, "latitude": 40.71427, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"od297\">Fast Company, a business and technology magazine based in New York City, shut down its website after a cyberattack led to “obscene and racist” posts and Apple News push notifications.</p><p data-block-key=\"7f7pv\">In a <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FastCompany/status/1574980645868404736\">tweeted statement</a>, Fast Company said the attack on its content management system appeared to be related to a Sept. 25, 2022, hack of FastCompany.com in which similar language was posted on the site. The first incident forced the website offline for two hours while the company restored the page.</p><p data-block-key=\"egd5u\">Two days later, following the unauthorized Apple News alerts, the organization said it would disable its website and Apple News feed during its investigation into the attacks.</p><p data-block-key=\"15hjf\">“The messages are vile and are not in line with the content and ethos of Fast Company,” the company <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FastCompany/status/1574938145237639168\">tweeted</a>. “We are investigating the situation and have shut down FastCompany.com until the situation has been resolved.”</p><p data-block-key=\"f77so\">Immediately after the Sept. 27 attack, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker confirmed that accessing the magazine’s website resulted in a “404 Not Found” message. When accessed on Sept. 29, FastCompany.com redirected to a <a href=\"https://www.fastcompany.com/statement.html\">statement</a> mirroring those published on Twitter.</p><p data-block-key=\"32pa7\">According to the statement, Fast Company is continuing to publish its news and analysis across the magazine’s social media platforms. It is unclear how long the website will be unavailable, or who was responsible for the attack.</p><p data-block-key=\"fojai\">Before it was removed from the site, a post about the attack shared that the hackers got access through a password that was shared across many accounts, <a href=\"https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/27/23375939/fast-company-apple-news-notification-hack?mc_cid=add57c6902&amp;mc_eid=2a64aafee5\">The Verge reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"dafb8\">Fast Company did not respond to a request for comment from the Tracker, but it <a href=\"https://twitter.com/FastCompany/status/1575215452368019456\">tweeted</a> that a “global incident response and cybersecurity firm” would lead an investigation.</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": 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": [ "(2022-10-05 19:01:00+00:00) Fast Company website back online eight days after cyberattack" ], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "Fast Company" ], "tags": [ "cyberattack" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Other Incident" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Judge rules Starbucks union organizers must turn over media exchanges", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/judge-rules-starbucks-union-organizers-must-turn-over-media-exchanges/", "first_published_at": "2022-12-15T17:07:16.621276Z", "last_published_at": "2022-12-15T17:07:16.621276Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-12-15T17:07:16.516719Z", "date": "2022-09-23", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Buffalo", "longitude": -78.87837, "latitude": 42.88645, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"36aqu\">Nearly two dozen individuals behind a unionization drive at Starbucks locations in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, were ordered to turn over their communications with journalists by a federal judge on Sept. 23, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"bnlbj\">The ruling came as part of a <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620.1.0.pdf\">complaint</a> the National Labor Relations Board filed against Starbucks in June 2022, accusing the Seattle-based coffee giant of union-busting activities. Starbucks <a href=\"https://apps.nlrb.gov/link/document.aspx/09031d45839081be\">denies</a> any wrongdoing.</p><p data-block-key=\"9rt5c\">According to court records reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, organizers and current and former Starbucks employees were ordered in early September to turn over all documents concerning getting in contact with any media outlet about the unionization efforts and any resulting communications.</p><p data-block-key=\"evtd9\">The Washington Post <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/10/29/starbucks-reporters-union-communications-judge/\">reported</a> that the order would likely pertain to thousands of messages with journalists, and that the Post, The New York Times, Vice, Fox News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian and Buffalo News have extensively covered the organizing campaign.</p><p data-block-key=\"3m2bn\">NLRB filed a motion to quash the subpoenas or issue a protective order. <a href=\"https://workersunited.org/\">Workers United</a>, a labor union working to organize the New York stores, also received a subpoena and filed two motions to quash: one on its own behalf and one on behalf of the subpoenaed <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620.42.0.pdf\">Starbucks employees</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"eb59b\">On Sept. 23, District Judge John Sinatra Jr. <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620.49.0.pdf\">issued his ruling</a> quashing some requests in the subpoenas, but holding that communications and any recordings of conversations with the media would have to be produced.</p><p data-block-key=\"ak3qp\">According to the Post, it is unusual for a judge to approve a request that so blatantly targets communications with journalists, which would be protected under New York’s Shield Law if the journalists had been issued the subpoenas instead.</p><p data-block-key=\"d07tn\">For subpoenas issued directly to journalists or news organizations, and information about how we document those legal orders, explore the Tracker’s <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/subpoena/\">Subpoena/Legal Order category</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"8g14o\">A Starbucks spokesperson, Andrew Trull, defended the judge’s order in a statement to the Post alleging that the media received false information.</p><p data-block-key=\"88hv\">“This is about getting to the truth and uncovering misinformation that [union-supporting workers] have disseminated to both our partners and the public,” Trull said.</p><p data-block-key=\"7ts4j\">No documents were produced by the court-imposed deadline of Oct. 14. On Oct. 27, Starbucks <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620/gov.uscourts.nywd.141620.63.0.pdf\">filed a motion</a> for the court to hold the union and the individuals subpoenaed in contempt and impose sanctions on them. That same day, Workers United notified the court of its intention to file an appeal of the judge’s ruling with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.</p><p data-block-key=\"btdnf\">Sinatra has placed all proceedings — including ruling on the motion for sanctions — on hold until the appeal is resolved. As of publication, the appeal has not yet been filed.</p><p data-block-key=\"loto\">The president of The NewsGuild, one of the largest journalist labor unions, <a href=\"https://buffalonews.com/business/local/free-press-advocates-alarmed-by-buffalo-judges-ruling-in-starbucks-case/article_906aa7f4-56e1-11ed-b4ee-ff59627c99f3.html\">told the Buffalo News</a> that the order chips away at free press protections and creates a chilling effect for both journalists and their sources.</p><p data-block-key=\"70j5a\">&quot;Clearly, Starbucks is violating the First Amendment of our country by trying to get access to information that is part of the news gathering process,&quot; Jon Schleuss said. &quot;The federal government has no place in restricting the freedom of press.”</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": 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": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "Media" ], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Other Incident" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Two Occupy Democrats journalists barred from DeSantis press conference", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-occupy-democrats-journalists-barred-from-desantis-press-conference/", "first_published_at": "2022-10-14T16:21:32.547749Z", "last_published_at": "2023-12-20T20:43:01.646919Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-20T20:43:01.567674Z", "date": "2022-09-22", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Miami", "longitude": -80.19366, "latitude": 25.77427, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"cof21\">Two journalists with the news arm of progressive political organization Occupy Democrats were barred from attending a press conference with Gov. Ron DeSantis in Miami, Florida, on Sept. 22, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"b0b9p\">Editor-at-Large Grant Stern told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he and Reported Opinion Columnist Thomas Kennedy learned about the press conference after DeSantis put it on his public agenda. The pair was ultimately stopped before they could enter the venue at Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Was just denied entrance to DeSantis’ press event. Police put their hands on me and forcibly removed me from this publicly funded event despite me not raising my voice and police acknowledging we are not violent. We wanted to ask why DeSantis is using migrants as political props.</p>&mdash; Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/tomaskenn/status/1573005657594560512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 22, 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=\"cof21\">In a video Kennedy <a href=\"https://twitter.com/tomaskenn/status/1573016253404532736\">posted on Twitter</a> of the interaction, a person he identifies as a Miami police detective says he and Grant have already been advised they are not welcome. “You’re not invited. You’re not press.”</p><p data-block-key=\"anslu\">Officer Roberto Heredia Rubio subsequently <a href=\"https://twitter.com/tomaskenn/status/1573016484326084609\">told the journalists</a> that it was a private event and that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement instructed the officers to prevent them from entering.</p><p data-block-key=\"ah51u\">According to the <a href=\"https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/os-ne-desantis-china-influence-bills-20210607-7mlip2poz5hl3pcsokaabdg22i-story.html\">Orlando Sentinel</a>, DeSantis signed two bills into law that day aimed at combating foreign influence in Florida’s universities and increasing the penalties for selling trade secrets, particularly to foreign governments.</p><p data-block-key=\"39u6v\">Stern told the Tracker that during the interaction, another officer at the venue refused to identify himself and then began filming them on a cellphone. Stern requested that the officer send him a copy of the recording in compliance with the state’s public records law. The officer refused and forced them to exit the building under threat of arrest.</p><p data-block-key=\"bdth8\">“This is the second time that an officer from the City of Miami has responded to me making an on-the-spot records request with retaliatory conduct,” Stern said. “There’s a pattern and practice of civil rights violations in Miami.”</p><p data-block-key=\"3e1mv\">The governor’s office has <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/?search=desantis&amp;categories=Denial+of+Access\">barred press from covering press conferences or bill signings</a> on at least four other occasions since March 2020, including an incident in April when both Stern and Kennedy were forcefully removed from a press conference with DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñes. The Tracker documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-occupy-democrats-journalists-removed-from-press-conference-with-florida-governor/\">here</a>.</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": 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": "Florida", "abbreviation": "FL" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [ "State government: Governor" ], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Denial of Access" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Grant Stern (Occupy Democrats)", "Thomas Kennedy (Occupy Democrats)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [ "Government event" ] }, { "title": "Ransomware attack delays two daily newspapers in Utah", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/ransomware-attack-delays-two-daily-newspapers-in-utah/", "first_published_at": "2022-09-13T15:16:07.362175Z", "last_published_at": "2022-09-28T15:54:20.118316Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2022-09-28T15:54:20.060245Z", "date": "2022-09-05", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Ogden", "longitude": -111.97383, "latitude": 41.223, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"3janp\">Two Utah newspapers — the Standard-Examiner and its sister paper, the Provo Daily Herald — were forced to delay the delivery of daily print newspapers after a ransomware attack targeted the Standard-Examiner’s computer network on Sept. 5, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"c88me\">The Standard-Examiner <a href=\"https://www.standard.net/news/local/2022/sep/06/ransomware-attack-hits-standard-examiner-delays-tuesday-paper/?fbclid=IwAR241AupgTtQDeq2DeM7iNahgGwtBx-aROnrPmhUDc3eD56B6evlEK_Z7FQ\">reported</a> that the attack, which caused an outage at the newspapers’ shared plant in Ogden, was believed to have come from an infected email sent by unknown intruders.</p><p data-block-key=\"edch1\">In ransomware attacks, hackers use malicious software, or “malware,” to seize control of a company’s IT and digital assets and demand the company pay a ransom for their return.</p><p data-block-key=\"cduud\">The Standard-Examiner reported that its IT staff initially detected the intrusion on Sept. 5, after the system had already been compromised, delaying the newspapers’ Sept. 6 print edition until the following day.</p><p data-block-key=\"2l90f\">The Standard-Examiner’s website and digital newspaper, standard.net, were not affected by the attack, according to the outlet. Tim Swietek, information technology director for Ogden Newspapers of Utah, told the Standard-Examiner that the intruders did not gain access to the cloud computers containing most of the newspaper’s data.</p><p data-block-key=\"fa5q9\">The compromised computer network was repaired the next day, Swietek told the Standard-Examiner, and normal printing resumed.</p><p data-block-key=\"bolkj\">Neither the Standard-Examiner nor the Daily Herald responded to requests for comment.</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": 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": "Utah", "abbreviation": "UT" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "Provo Daily Herald", "Standard-Examiner" ], "tags": [ "cyberattack" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Other Incident" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Devices illegally seized in investigation of reporter’s murder, Review-Journal argues", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/devices-illegally-seized-in-investigation-of-reporters-murder-review-journal-argues/", "first_published_at": "2022-09-27T17:41:09.041418Z", "last_published_at": "2024-10-17T17:57:52.175048Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-17T17:57:52.017152Z", "date": "2022-09-03", "exact_date_unknown": true, "city": "Las Vegas", "longitude": -115.13722, "latitude": 36.17497, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"vg957\">The Las Vegas Review-Journal filed a motion for a protective order on Sept. 26, 2022, arguing that authorities should be barred from searching the electronic devices seized as part of the investigation into the murder of reporter Jeff German.</p><p data-block-key=\"914sm\">German, who had covered crime and political corruption in Las Vegas for more than 40 years, was <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/county-official-arrested-in-stabbing-death-of-las-vegas-journalist/\">stabbed outside his home</a> on Sept. 2. Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested on suspicion of murder less than a week later and is being held without bail awaiting trial.</p><p data-block-key=\"387qk\">According to court filings reviewed by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, both Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson contacted the Review-Journal, alerting the newspaper to the seizure of German’s devices and requesting a waiver to allow authorities to search them.</p><p data-block-key=\"dagbf\">The Clark County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to an emailed request for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"2591i\">In total, officers seized an iPhone, three iMacs, a Macbook and an external hard drive from German’s home, according to the motion. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told the newspaper in writing on Sept. 16 that the devices had not been searched and would not be until the court issued an order authorizing the review.</p><p data-block-key=\"5gsmi\">Ashley Kissinger, an attorney representing the newspaper, sent a letter to the Metro Police Department, the Clark County public defender representing Telles and the District Attorney’s Office on Sept. 21 listing their concerns and requesting a call to further discuss the issue. Kissinger sent a follow up letter two days later proposing a resolution before resorting to filing a motion for a protective order.</p><p data-block-key=\"4dmv4\">When reached for comment, Review-Journal Executive Editor Glenn Cook provided a copy of the motion and declined to comment further.</p><p data-block-key=\"3tenr\">The letters and the motion filed on the Review-Journal’s behalf on Sept. 26 argue that German’s contacts, communications and work product are protected from seizure and review under Nevada’s shield law and the federal <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-661-privacy-protection-act-1980\">Privacy Protection Act</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7kctr\">“The Review-Journal appreciates the efforts of law enforcement to investigate the murder of Mr. German, and of all those seeking to ensure that justice is done for this horrific crime,” the motion states. “However, the newspaper has serious and urgent concerns about the protection of confidential sources and other unpublished journalistic work product contained in the Seized Devices.”</p><p data-block-key=\"967bt\">The motion further requests that the court allow the Review-Journal to review the devices, identify the newsgathering materials contained on them and determine whether it wishes to waive its privilege concerning any of the files.</p><p data-block-key=\"46pui\">The Committee to Protect Journalists, a founding partner of the Tracker, <a href=\"https://cpj.org/2022/09/cpj-supports-las-vegas-review-journals-efforts-to-protect-slain-reporters-unpublished-source-material/\">expressed its support</a> for the newspaper.</p><p data-block-key=\"59d5j\">“A murder investigation should not be used as a pretext to access unreported source material that should be protected by both the First Amendment and Nevada’s shield law,” CPJ U.S. and Canada Program Coordinator Katherine Jacobsen said in a statement. “If law enforcement were to gain access to decades of Jeff German’s unpublished work, including sensitive source material, it would make an already difficult situation even worse.”</p><p data-block-key=\"flsd3\">According to the court filing, a hearing on the motion is scheduled for Sept. 28.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/German_motion.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"7f134\">A portion of the motion filed on behalf of the Las Vegas Review-Journal seeking to protect the newsgathering materials contained on multiple devices seized from slain reporter Jeff German’s home in September 2022.</p>", "arresting_authority": null, "arrest_status": null, "release_date": null, "detention_date": null, "unnecessary_use_of_force": false, "case_number": "A-22-859361-C", "case_type": "CIVIL", "status_of_seized_equipment": "in custody", "is_search_warrant_obtained": true, "actor": "law enforcement", "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": "State", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [ { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "cellphone" }, { "quantity": 4, "equipment": "computer" }, { "quantity": 1, "equipment": "storage device" } ], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Nevada", "abbreviation": "NV" }, "updates": [ "(2024-01-25 14:43:00+00:00) Review-Journal staff authorized to search slain reporter’s devices", "(2022-10-19 12:05:00+00:00) Injunction to be heard by Nevada Supreme Court following police department appeal", "(2023-10-05 15:04:00+00:00) Nevada top court says search protocol in Jeff German case violates privilege", "(2022-10-05 11:34:00+00:00) Judge grants Review-Journal emergency protective order against searching slain reporter’s devices", "(2022-12-16 14:30:00+00:00) Review-Journal files for sanctions after learning that police searched journalist’s phone", "(2023-01-25 15:40:00+00:00) Judge denies sanctions against the Las Vegas police for search slain reporter’s phone", "(2024-07-25 13:29:00+00:00) After many delays, slain journalist’s murder trial set for August", "(2022-10-11 15:26:00+00:00) Judge grants injunction barring searching slain reporter’s devices until agreement reached", "(2024-08-28 00:00:00+00:00) County official convicted in stabbing death of Las Vegas investigative journalist", "(2022-11-15 13:47:00+00:00) Judges side with Review-Journal in series of rulings on seizure of slain reporter’s devices", "(2024-10-16 12:39:00+00:00) County official sentenced to life for murder of Las Vegas investigative journalist" ], "case_statuses": [ "ongoing" ], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Equipment Search or Seizure", "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Jeff German (Las Vegas Review-Journal)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "County official arrested in stabbing death of Las Vegas investigative journalist", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/county-official-arrested-in-stabbing-death-of-las-vegas-journalist/", "first_published_at": "2022-09-08T14:30:50.435711Z", "last_published_at": "2024-10-17T17:58:04.962738Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2024-10-17T17:58:04.812251Z", "date": "2022-09-02", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Las Vegas", "longitude": -115.13722, "latitude": 36.17497, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"pupxg\">On Sept. 7, 2022, Las Vegas police arrested a public official on suspicion of murdering a Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist, <a href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/police-arrest-county-official-in-reporters-stabbing-death-2635486/\">according to the outlet</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"30ni2\">Investigative reporter Jeff German was found fatally stabbed outside of his home on the morning of Sept. 3, with police saying they believe he was attacked the previous morning. In the <a href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/review-journal-investigative-reporter-jeff-german-killed-outside-home-2634323/\">report of his death</a>, Review-Journal Executive Editor Glenn Cook said German had never communicated concerns about his personal safety or threats made against him.</p><p data-block-key=\"flmun\">On Sept. 6, LVMPD <a href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/police-release-images-of-suspect-in-reporters-slaying-seek-footage-2634614/\">released two images</a> during a news conference, including one of a suspect next to a vehicle. Later that evening, <a href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/homicides/police-arrest-county-official-in-reporters-stabbing-death-2635486/\">according to the Review-Journal</a>, reporters for the outlet observed Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles in his driveway next to a vehicle matching the description.</p><p data-block-key=\"akh1a\">German had published a series of <a href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/county-office-in-turmoil-with-secret-video-and-claims-of-bullying-hostility-2577147/\">investigations</a> into Telles beginning in May which revealed a hostile work environment characterized by bullying, retaliation and an “inappropriate relationship” between Telles and a staffer during his oversight of the public administrator’s office.</p><p data-block-key=\"cbcr3\">On Sept. 7, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department searched Telles’ home and arrested him that evening, <a href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/who-is-county-official-robert-telles-2635614/\">according to the Review-Journal</a>.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">TELLES ARRESTED: Police have arrested Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles on Wednesday on suspicion of murder of Las Vegas Review Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, according to <a href=\"https://twitter.com/LVMPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LVMPD</a> Sheriff Joe Lombardo. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/RJNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#RJNow</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/V4IqE7euZP\">pic.twitter.com/V4IqE7euZP</a></p>&mdash; James Schaeffer (@jamesmschaeffer) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/jamesmschaeffer/status/1567691946965233664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 8, 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=\"pupxg\">“The arrest of Robert Telles is at once an enormous relief and an outrage for the Review-Journal newsroom,” Executive Editor Cook said in a statement to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. “We are relieved Telles is in custody and outraged that a colleague appears to have been killed for reporting on an elected official. Journalists can’t do the important work our communities require if they are afraid a presentation of facts could lead to violent retribution. We thank Las Vegas police for their urgency and hard work and for immediately recognizing the terrible significance of Jeff’s killing. Now, hopefully, the Review-Journal, the German family and Jeff’s many friends can begin the process of mourning and honoring a great man and a brave reporter.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bh5dt\">Telles is being held on suspicion of murder and has a court appearance scheduled on Sept. 8, according to online Clark County Jail records reviewed by the Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"99ov7\">As of publication, LVMPD and the Review-Journal could not be reached for comment.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/image_ExDg1DK.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ubmb1\">Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German, photographed on Las Vegas’ Strip in June 2021, was killed outside his home on Sept. 2, 2022. A county official has been charged with his murder.</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": 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": "politician", "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": "Nevada", "abbreviation": "NV" }, "updates": [ "(2022-09-08 14:22:00+00:00) Las Vegas police say evidence ties county official to murder of Review-Journal journalist", "(2022-10-26 13:33:00+00:00) County official pleads not guilty in the murder of Las Vegas journalist", "(2022-11-02 10:57:00+00:00) Trial date set for county official charged in the murder of Las Vegas journalist", "(2022-10-19 13:37:00+00:00) County official charged with murder of Las Vegas journalist, faces possible death penalty", "(2023-02-01 16:38:00+00:00) Trial postponed for county official charged in stabbing death of Review-Journal reporter", "(2024-07-25 14:23:00+00:00) After many delays, slain journalist’s murder trial set for August", "(2024-08-28 00:00:00+00:00) County official convicted in stabbing death of Las Vegas investigative journalist", "(2024-10-16 12:39:00+00:00) County official sentenced to life for murder of Las Vegas investigative journalist", "(2022-10-18 12:07:00+00:00) County official accused of stabbing death of Las Vegas journalist denied bail" ], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "killed" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Jeff German (Las Vegas Review-Journal)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "California journalism adviser threatened with suspension, rescinded after appeal", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/california-journalism-advisor-threatened-with-suspension-rescinded-after-appeal/", "first_published_at": "2022-09-19T20:31:03.727845Z", "last_published_at": "2024-02-29T15:11:45.503801Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T15:11:45.338455Z", "date": "2022-09-01", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Lake Balboa", "longitude": null, "latitude": null, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ptx2y\">The suspension of a journalism adviser at a high school in Lake Balboa, California, was rescinded on Sept. 16, 2022 following a lengthy conflict with school administrators.</p><p data-block-key=\"156bb\">Daniel Pearl Magnet High School’s journalism adviser, Adriana Chavira, was given an unpaid three-day suspension on Sept. 1, after Chavira repeatedly denied school administrators&#x27; requests that she remove a librarian’s name from a fall 2021 student story about a vaccine mandate protest, the <a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-08/los-angeles-daniel-pearl-high-school-journalism-advisor-faces-suspension\">Los Angeles Times reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"cjag3\">Chavira, ​a former reporter and longtime journalism adviser at the high school, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that she left the name in the story because the student journalists didn’t want it removed.</p><p data-block-key=\"7u2p8\">“It’s a student-run publication,” Chavira said. “I read the stories before they’re posted, but the students are the ones who ultimately write the headlines, post them and make it live. I don’t do that.”</p><p data-block-key=\"cdmj8\">The <a href=\"https://www.thepearlpost.com/27098/showcase/school-staff-vaccine-mandate-sparks-protests-causes-librarian-to-leave/\">original report</a> about people protesting the school district’s vaccination mandate was published in November 2021. The article named a librarian who had refused to be vaccinated and left the school because of the mandate, causing the school library to close.</p><p data-block-key=\"8eue1\">Chavira said she received an email from the librarian in mid-November asking that her name be taken out of the story. Chavira forwarded the email to the Pearl Post’s student journalists, who consulted with the Student Press Law Center and decided not to remove the name given its newsworthiness.</p><p data-block-key=\"av322\">Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel for the SPLC, said that California has the oldest law protecting students’ First Amendment rights in the country. The law, <a href=\"https://splc.org/1977/02/california-student-free-expression-law-includes-adviser-protection-provision/\">Education Code 48907</a>, also protects journalism advisers from retaliation.</p><p data-block-key=\"7b91\">“It’s such an easy legal case,” Hiestand said. “And I really am befuddled by why the district has taken the stance that it has.”</p><p data-block-key=\"2dacp\">In a statement emailed to the Tracker before the suspension was rescinded, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson said they were unable to address ongoing personnel matters. “We will continue to support our students and their journalistic endeavors at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School while also respecting the concerns of our school community.”</p><p data-block-key=\"fhsdf\">Chavira said she received her first email from school administrators threatening disciplinary action if the name wasn’t taken out of the story in January 2022. In a months-long back-and-forth, she said, the school would repeatedly give her deadlines to remove the name. She repeatedly ignored them, arguing that it was up to the students’ discretion.</p><p data-block-key=\"4kbto\">The suspension, which Chavira said would have been handed down in June 2022 if the school’s principal hadn&#x27;t fallen ill at the end of the school year, came three weeks into the fall 2022 semester. According to Chavira, the school completely ignored the law protecting the student publication and framed the suspension as an issue of insubordination.</p><p data-block-key=\"1l18k\">Backed by the California Teachers Association, journalists and press freedom advocates around the country, Chavira’s suspension was rescinded following an appeal hearing on Sept. 16, <a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-17/suspension-rescinded-for-l-a-journalism-teacher-who-refused-to-censor-student-article\">the Times reported.</a> Supporters also include the father of Daniel Pearl, the slain reporter after whom the school is named. In <a href=\"https://lapressclub.org/pearl-family-la-press-club-share-support-high-school-journalism-advisor/\">an LA Press Club statement</a>, Judea Pearl, who is also the president of his son’s namesake foundation, praised the journalism adviser for inspiring her students.</p><p data-block-key=\"2o9rf\">In her <a href=\"https://twitter.com/adrianachavira/status/1570981832350658563\">tweet</a> celebrating the successful appeal, Chavira thanked the many supporters.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">🧵My suspension has been rescinded! You have no idea how relieved I am! I am grateful to the many journalism organizations &amp; people who supported my students &amp; me throughout this ordeal. Yes, I wore this <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/FirstAmendment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FirstAmendment</a> shirt to my appeal meeting on Zoom today. (1/6) <a href=\"https://t.co/TaSZPaUS7U\">pic.twitter.com/TaSZPaUS7U</a></p>&mdash; Adriana Chavira (@adrianachavira) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/adrianachavira/status/1570981832350658563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 17, 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=\"ptx2y\">“The district should never have attempted to censor my students and discipline me,” Chavira wrote. “All along, I knew we were in the right and I&#x27;m proud of my students for holding their ground, too.”</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": 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": "California", "abbreviation": "CA" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [ "The Pearl Post" ], "tags": [ "coronavirus", "student journalism" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Other Incident" ], "targeted_journalists": [], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] }, { "title": "Judge quashes subpoena of opinion editor as part of Flint water suit", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/judge-quashes-subpoena-of-opinion-editor-as-part-of-flint-water-suit/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-30T21:20:30.396420Z", "last_published_at": "2023-06-29T16:12:03.730019Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-06-29T16:12:03.600171Z", "date": "2022-09-01", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Ann Arbor", "longitude": -83.74088, "latitude": 42.27756, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"zdgol\">Two Detroit News editors were issued subpoenas on Sept. 1, 2022, as part of ongoing litigation around the contamination of the water system in Flint, Michigan. The subpoenas, which ordered Opinion Editor Brendan Clarey and Editor and Publisher Gary Miles to turn over documents and sit for depositions, were subsequently quashed.</p><p data-block-key=\"fr1ij\">The Detroit News had published an opinion piece on Aug. 31 that criticized a lawsuit brought against two engineering firms for their alleged role in the water crisis. Earlier that month, a federal judge had declared a mistrial in the case.</p><p data-block-key=\"c6aps\">The <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.3.pdf\">subpoenas</a>, issued by the plaintiff’s after the mistrial, sought all communications and newsgathering material related to the op-ed, which was written by the president of The American Tort Reform Association. The subpoenas also specifically sought information about the editorial process for the op-ed and whether one of the engineering firms was involved in placing the piece.</p><p data-block-key=\"7mc47\">Miles, who responded to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s request for comment, said that at first they didn’t know that Clarey had also been issued a subpoena because he was on family leave. The Tracker has documented Miles’ subpoena <a href=\"/all-incidents/two-detroit-news-editors-subpoenaed-as-part-of-flint-water-suit/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"8b80b\">Miles said that before the op-ed was published, a reporter at the newspaper had contacted the plaintiffs’ attorney for comment on a separate news story, which concerned a possible public relations campaign being waged by the defendants.</p><p data-block-key=\"fs4uv\">Miles said that, while he doesn’t know the rationale of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, it’s possible they feared or suspected the news organization was being co-opted by defendants, because the op-ed ran before the news story was published.</p><p data-block-key=\"8vv5e\">Plaintiffs’ attorney Corey Stern issued the subpoenas and <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.5.pdf\">sent a letter</a> to The Detroit News’ attorneys on Sept. 1, accusing the newspaper of publishing defamatory claims about him and of conspiring with the defendants in the suit.</p><p data-block-key=\"6hj2a\">Attorneys for Clarey and Miles filed a <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.0.pdf\">motion to quash</a> on Oct. 17.</p><p data-block-key=\"9vd9e\">“The burden on Mr. Miles and Mr. Clarey to attend depositions and produce documents is great, as it potentially requires them to produce confidential, unpublished material and communications,” the motion stated. “Allowing access to these materials and communications from a journalist will severely inhibit the flow of accurate information to the interested public.”</p><p data-block-key=\"boltt\">District Judge Judith Levy <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2267.0_1.pdf\">ruled</a> in favor of the journalists on Nov. 17.</p><p data-block-key=\"7urnd\">“While there are certainly some circumstances where it would be appropriate for a party to take third-party discovery from a media outlet,” Levy wrote in her ruling, “this is not one of them.”</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Clarey_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"heiej\">A portion of the motion filed on behalf of Detroit News editors Gary Miles and Brendan Clarey seeking to quash the subpoenas issued them by plaintiffs in an ongoing Flint water crisis lawsuit on Sept. 1, 2022.</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": null, "border_point": null, "target_us_citizenship_status": null, "denial_of_entry": false, "stopped_previously": false, "did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null, "did_authorities_ask_about_work": null, "assailant": null, "was_journalist_targeted": null, "charged_under_espionage_act": false, "subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product", "name_of_business": null, "third_party_business": null, "legal_order_venue": "Federal", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Michigan", "abbreviation": "MI" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Brendan Clarey (Detroit News)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [ "quashed" ], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Two Detroit News editors subpoenaed as part of Flint water suit", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-detroit-news-editors-subpoenaed-as-part-of-flint-water-suit/", "first_published_at": "2022-11-30T21:22:33.975137Z", "last_published_at": "2023-06-29T16:12:20.772099Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-06-29T16:12:20.659204Z", "date": "2022-09-01", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Ann Arbor", "longitude": -83.74088, "latitude": 42.27756, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"9u4y7\">Two Detroit News editors were issued subpoenas on Sept. 1, 2022, as part of ongoing litigation around the contamination of the water system in Flint, Michigan. The subpoenas, which ordered Editor and Publisher Gary Miles and Opinion Editor Brendan Clarey to turn over documents and sit for depositions, were subsequently quashed.</p><p data-block-key=\"5os4\">The Detroit News had published an opinion piece on Aug. 31 that criticized a lawsuit brought against two engineering firms for their alleged role in the water crisis. Earlier that month, a federal judge had declared a mistrial in the case.</p><p data-block-key=\"3q2j\">The <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.3.pdf\">subpoenas</a>, issued by the plaintiffs after the mistrial, sought all communications and newsgathering material related to the op-ed, which was written by the president of The American Tort Reform Association. The subpoenas also specifically sought information about the editorial process for the op-ed and whether one of the engineering firms was involved in placing the piece.</p><p data-block-key=\"brj5s\">Editor and Publisher Miles told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that before the op-ed was published, a reporter at the newspaper had contacted the plaintiffs’ attorney for comment on a separate news story, which concerned a possible public relations campaign being waged by the defendants.</p><p data-block-key=\"cm62c\">Miles said that, while he doesn’t know the rationale of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, it’s possible they feared or suspected the news organization was being co-opted by defendants, because the op-ed ran before the news story was published.</p><p data-block-key=\"dnr6u\">“They also might have simply seen the timing of the op-ed as another glaring example of the defendants trying to influence a prospective jury before it was seated for retrial,” he said.</p><p data-block-key=\"ebega\">Plaintiffs’ attorney Corey Stern issued the subpoenas and <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.5.pdf\">sent a letter</a> to The Detroit News’ attorneys on Sept. 1, accusing the newspaper of publishing defamatory claims about him and of conspiring with the defendants in the suit.</p><p data-block-key=\"5o2q2\">An attorney representing Miles sent a <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.6.pdf\">letter to Stern</a> on Sept. 27, stating that Miles would not comply with the subpoena and that they’d file a motion to quash the request if the plaintiffs refused to withdraw it.</p><p data-block-key=\"hou4\">“You are attempting to use the discovery process in an ongoing litigation to investigate your own meritless defamation claims,” the letter said. “This is an improper use of the discovery process, and we are confident the Court will not endorse this type of fishing expedition in the context of the ongoing Flint Water Litigation.”</p><p data-block-key=\"aeda5\">Miles told the Tracker that at first they didn’t know that Opinion Editor Clarey had also been issued a subpoena, as he was on family leave. The Tracker has documented Clarey’s subpoena <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/judge-quashes-subpoena-of-opinion-editor-as-part-of-flint-water-suit/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"6c0uu\">The plaintiffs refused to withdraw their subpoenas, and attorneys for Clarey and Miles filed a <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2233.0.pdf\">motion to quash</a> on Oct. 17.</p><p data-block-key=\"ao0em\">“The burden on Mr. Miles and Mr. Clarey to attend depositions and produce documents is great, as it potentially requires them to produce confidential, unpublished material and communications,” the motion stated. “Allowing access to these materials and communications from a journalist will severely inhibit the flow of accurate information to the interested public.”</p><p data-block-key=\"e87h7\">District Judge Judith Levy <a href=\"https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mied.308134/gov.uscourts.mied.308134.2267.0_1.pdf\">ruled</a> in favor of the journalists on Nov. 17.</p><p data-block-key=\"2kcgl\">“While there are certainly some circumstances where it would be appropriate for a party to take third-party discovery from a media outlet,” Levy wrote in her ruling, “this is not one of them.”</p><p data-block-key=\"6t8j9\">Miles told the Tracker he was pleased with the judge’s ruling, and he hopes that it will set a precedent for protecting journalists from being targeted with similar fishing expeditions.</p><p data-block-key=\"7t5ji\">“Even though there’s an expense to fighting off a subpoena like this, I think that’s ultimately the reward,” Miles said. “You can’t use the media to do your discovery, because the media has to have some manner of independence from the discovery in civil lawsuits so we’re not seen as an arm of one side or another.”</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Miles_subpoena.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"bcj8z\">A portion of the subpoena issued to Detroit News Editor and Published Gary Miles on Sept. 1, 2022. The subpoena sought communications, work product and testimony in connection with an ongoing Flint water crisis lawsuit.</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": null, "border_point": null, "target_us_citizenship_status": null, "denial_of_entry": false, "stopped_previously": false, "did_authorities_ask_for_device_access": null, "did_authorities_ask_about_work": null, "assailant": null, "was_journalist_targeted": null, "charged_under_espionage_act": false, "subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product", "name_of_business": null, "third_party_business": null, "legal_order_venue": "Federal", "status_of_prior_restraint": null, "mistakenly_released_materials": false, "links": [], "equipment_seized": [], "equipment_broken": [], "state": { "name": "Michigan", "abbreviation": "MI" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Subpoena/Legal Order" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Gary Miles (Detroit News)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [ "quashed" ], "type_of_denial": null }, { "title": "Independent journalist shot with pepper ball at Modesto protest", "url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-journalist-shot-with-pepper-ball-at-modesto-protest/", "first_published_at": "2022-09-07T20:42:42.812265Z", "last_published_at": "2023-12-06T16:44:57.613488Z", "latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-06T16:44:57.511067Z", "date": "2022-08-27", "exact_date_unknown": false, "city": "Modesto", "longitude": -120.99688, "latitude": 37.6391, "body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"m8qxb\">Independent journalist Jake Lee Green was shot with a crowd-control munition while documenting the clash of protesters and counterprotesters at a National Straight Pride Coalition event in Modesto, California, on Aug. 27, 2022.</p><p data-block-key=\"cpeut\">Green told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker he was on assignment for News2Share, a collective that sells footage to news outlets, to document the fourth annual “straight pride” parade outside of a Planned Parenthood. Though the event didn’t take place — because LGBTQ+ rights activists arrived before them to stop it — the demonstrators and counterprotesters began to clash, with some brawling in the street.</p><p data-block-key=\"2sh67\">The Modesto Police Department <a href=\"https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article264994959.html\">told The Modesto Bee</a> it declared the event an “unlawful gathering” after a bush caught fire. MPD officers and Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies formed a line pushing the counterprotesters back, according to the Bee.</p><p data-block-key=\"acn83\">Green said he and other colleagues asked police officers where to be, and they were told they had to “go with the crowd.”</p><p data-block-key=\"skum\">“We kept constantly trying to let them know that we were press and even when we tried to cross the street to get out of the crowd so we could differentiate ourselves from them, the police ended up taking over the entire street and pushing the entire street out and away,” Green said.</p><p data-block-key=\"52jvo\">Green told the Tracker he had been photographing a group of young activists at the police line who were being struck with batons and shot with pepper balls during the forced dispersal at around 11:15 a.m. According to Green, that’s when an MPD officer shot him with a pepper ball munition.<br/></p><p data-block-key=\"8u96p\">“I was focused on that group of people because I saw that [the officer] was shooting at them, I wasn’t actually necessarily paying attention to him although he was in the frame,” Green said. “And while I was focused on them he must have turned to me and shot toward my left pretty indiscriminately.”</p><p data-block-key=\"a83o9\">Green told the Tracker he was carrying a professional camera and had attached his press credentials to his hat so that they could be easily seen. He said that the officer wasn’t being careful enough to notice that he was a member of the press or did notice and decided to fire at him anyway.</p><p data-block-key=\"de8bs\">When things calmed down shortly after, Green checked his wound. “I thought, ‘OK, I’m bleeding a little bit but not too bad,’ and I continued to do my work throughout the day.”</p><p data-block-key=\"7qlmk\">MPD did not respond to a call requesting comment.</p></div>", "introduction": "", "teaser": "", "teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/Jake_Lee_Green.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg", "primary_video": null, "image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"bprv9\">Independent journalist Jake Lee Green was shot in the leg with a pepper ball, a type of crowd-control munition, while documenting a ‘straight pride’ event and counterprotest in Modesto, California, on Aug. 27, 2022.</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": 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": "law enforcement", "was_journalist_targeted": "unknown", "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": "California", "abbreviation": "CA" }, "updates": [], "case_statuses": [], "workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [], "target_nationality": [], "targeted_institutions": [], "tags": [ "chemical irritant", "LGBTQ+ rights", "protest", "shot / shot at" ], "politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [], "authors": [], "categories": [ "Assault" ], "targeted_journalists": [ "Jake Lee Green (News2Share)" ], "subpoena_statuses": [], "type_of_denial": [] } ]