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{
"title": "Subpoena for Iowa journalist’s reporting materials in lottery rigging case dropped",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/subpoena-for-iowa-journalists-reporting-materials-in-lottery-rigging-case-dropped/",
"first_published_at": "2019-09-20T16:23:11.471374Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T19:51:16.778035Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T19:51:16.690963Z",
"date": "2019-08-16",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Iowa City",
"longitude": -91.53017,
"latitude": 41.66113,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"7bnc8\">Iowa journalist Perry Beeman received a subpoena for unpublished work product in connection to his book, “The $80 Billion Gamble,” on Aug. 16, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"czt6k\">The books tells the story of lottery security contractor Eddie Tipton, who rigged number-drawing programs on computers to win jackpots for himself, friends and family in several states, The Associated Press <a href=\"https://www.apnews.com/8340a865ad4b4c13bbaa70380fe64ba1\">reported</a>. Larry Dawson, a jackpot winner, has sued the Iowa Lottery and Multi-State Lottery Association, arguing that Tipton’s scheme reduced his prize by millions.</p><p data-block-key=\"vetta\">As part of the lawsuit, attorneys representing Dawson ordered Beeman to turn over by Sept. 16 all of his correspondence with former Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich—with whom Beeman co-authored the book—since January 2018, including notes related to four interviews they conducted last year.</p><p data-block-key=\"cvwm5\">Beeman did not respond to the subpoena before it was withdrawn on Aug. 27, but he told the AP he likely would have fought it.</p><p data-block-key=\"jgi3n\">“I’m happy that he’s withdrawn the subpoena,” Beeman told the AP. “I think the information was privileged. The Iowa Supreme Court has been pretty clear that the type of information sought was off limits.”</p><p data-block-key=\"w5y53\">Blake Hanson, one of the attorneys representing Dawson, confirmed to the AP that the subpoena had been withdrawn, but offered no explanation for the decision. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in December.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"01qxq\">An Iowa Powerball drawing manager performs a test run of equipment in this 1998 file photo.</p>",
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"subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product",
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"state": {
"name": "Iowa",
"abbreviation": "IA"
},
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"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
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"Perry Beeman (Independent)"
],
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"dropped"
],
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},
{
"title": "Oregon county official accuses local newspaper of criminal conduct",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/oregon-county-official-accuses-local-newspaper-criminal-conduct/",
"first_published_at": "2020-02-11T16:29:52.372473Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T18:47:55.544469Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T18:47:55.473348Z",
"date": "2019-08-14",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Malheur County",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"r4r6n\">An Oregon county official accused a local newspaper of criminal harassment and requested a formal investigation into what the newspaper defended as normal reporting practices.</p><p data-block-key=\"pb12b\">The Malheur Enterprise reported that it had spent months investigating State Rep. Greg Smith and his work as the contract director of the Malheur County Economic Development Department.</p><p data-block-key=\"0e6ug\">Enterprise Editor and Publisher Les Zaitz told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that Smith and his agency have been uncooperative with the newspaper’s attempts to report on its activities and projects for well over a year.</p><p data-block-key=\"1hd68\">Following the publication of <a href=\"https://www.malheurenterprise.com/posts/5981/malheur-county-lured-company-to-ontario-with-tax-break-promise-then-doesnt-deliver\">an article</a> on the department, a county attorney made a formal request to the local sheriff’s office to investigate the Enterprise reporters. In <a href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6270668-Important-Notice-Response-to-the-Malheur.html\">a statement</a> published on Aug. 14, 2019, Smith wrote that he and his staff had been “subjected to endless phone calls, hostile emails at all hours of the day and unwelcome visits,” and accused the Enterprise of pursuing a “vendetta” against him and his office.</p><p data-block-key=\"lcfen\">Sheriff Brian Wolfe confirmed to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that a county official had asked him to investigate Smith’s allegations</p><p data-block-key=\"jt1zx\">Wolfe told an Enterprise reporter that the newspaper should examine the state crime of “telephonic harassment,” <a href=\"https://www.malheurenterprise.com/posts/5999/malheur-county-officials-ask-sheriff-to-assess-whether-enterprise-reporters-broke-laws\">according to the outlet</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"rwc46\"><a href=\"https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.090\">According to state law</a>, “a telephone caller commits the crime of telephonic harassment if the caller intentionally harasses or annoys another person” by repeatedly calling or leaving messages at a number they have been forbidden to use. Telephonic harassment is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum $2,500 fine.</p><p data-block-key=\"xi088\">In a statement <a href=\"https://www.malheurenterprise.com/posts/6498/from-the-publisher-enterprise-accused-of-criminal-conduct-again\">published</a> by the Enterprise, Zaitz defended the staff’s reporting activities as professional and customary. Zaitz also said the newspaper’s staff was alarmed by the prospect of a criminal investigation or search warrant on the Enterprise’s offices.</p><p data-block-key=\"i3qon\">“We are a small, independently owned news source trying to hold public officials accountable,” Zaitz said. “Rather than provide information and truth, local officials appear more interested in criminalizing a profession protected by the First Amendment.”</p><p data-block-key=\"qsufo\">The Enterprise reported that Smith’s staff had been instructed to turn over email correspondence with the newspaper to the sheriff’s office.</p><p data-block-key=\"j0p1g\">Sheriff Wolfe confirmed to the Tracker that his office did not open a formal investigation.</p><p data-block-key=\"qm76f\">“We looked into the allegations and we did not open an investigation because there were no elements of a crime,” Wolfe said.</p><p data-block-key=\"d9ytb\">Smith did not respond to request for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"vynuf\"><i>Editor's Note: This article and update have been edited to reflect comment from Malheur Editor and Publisher Les Zaitz.</i></p></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "Oregon",
"abbreviation": "OR"
},
"updates": [
"(2019-12-14 11:28:00+00:00) Oregon county official again accuses local newspaper of criminal conduct"
],
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"targeted_institutions": [
"Malheur Enterprise"
],
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"Chilling Statement"
],
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},
{
"title": "Montgomery County Commission sued for ban on livestreaming chamber proceedings",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/montgomery-county-commission-sued-for-ban-on-livestreaming-chamber-proceedings/",
"first_published_at": "2021-02-05T17:15:47.286707Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-21T16:51:06.774673Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-21T16:51:06.695010Z",
"date": "2019-08-12",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Clarksville",
"longitude": -87.35945,
"latitude": 36.52977,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"a3uif\">On Aug. 12, 2019, the Montgomery County Commission in Clarksville, Tennessee, passed a <a href=\"https://tcog.info/files/2019/08/Montgomery-County-resolution-for-meeting-decorum-aug-12-2019.pdf\">resolution</a> banning live video streaming inside its chambers, stating: “No live broadcast from within the Commission Chambers of its proceedings in whole or in part is allowed. A simultaneous broadcast of the proceedings is available on the internet at ‘YouTube’ and the same is preserved there for an extended period.”</p><p data-block-key=\"qg9o3\">The resolution allowed livestreaming by news professionals, with the <a href=\"https://www.wkms.org/post/tennessee-commission-bans-public-livestreaming-meetings\">caveat that the media</a> gave prior notice and had approval from the Montgomery County government.</p><p data-block-key=\"ihkbl\">Two days after the resolution passed, commissioner Jason Knight, along with two co-plaintiffs, one “whose sole employment is livestreaming local government meetings, including county commission meetings in Montgomery County,” filed a <a href=\"https://www.dropbox.com/s/o9bmday7m8df8nr/001%20complaint.pdf?dl=0\">complaint</a> alleging the resolution was a violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. The complaint read, in part, that, “the government apparently believes . . . that operating an ‘official’ YouTube obviates the need for citizen live streamers. This is the modern equivalent of insisting that a State-run newspaper obviates the need for local press.”</p><p data-block-key=\"8opvx\">“The lawsuit was initiated because seemingly the First Amendment rights and the Tennessee Open Meetings Act were violated,” Knight told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"czp5o\">On Sept. 10, Montgomery County filed a motion to dismiss, which the <a href=\"https://casetext.com/case/knight-v-montgomery-cnty-1?q=\">United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee denied</a> on Jun. 30, 2020, holding that Knight’s First Amendment claim was valid.</p><p data-block-key=\"c59dy\">On Jan. 4, 2021, the court held a discovery dispute conference with the parties involved. No further updates have been made publicly available.<br/></p></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "Tennessee",
"abbreviation": "TN"
},
"updates": [],
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"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [
"Media"
],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [
"Local government: Legislature"
],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Denial of Access"
],
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"type_of_denial": [
"Change in policy or practice"
]
},
{
"title": "Fast Company subpoenaed for identifying information on confidential source",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/fast-company-subpoenaed-identifying-information-confidential-source/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-18T18:26:55.842338Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T18:48:13.690325Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T18:48:13.603536Z",
"date": "2019-08-09",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "New York",
"longitude": -74.00597,
"latitude": 40.71427,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"9acu0\">Business magazine Fast Company was subpoenaed on Aug. 9, 2019, for communications and documents relating to a 2017 article concerning the arrest of a tech investor in London.</p><p data-block-key=\"7pjjc\">Venture capital investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist Shervin Pishevar was arrested in May 2017 in the United Kingdom on suspicion of sexual assault. According to a memorandum of law filed by Pishevar’s attorneys and obtained by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, Pishevar was released on bail the following day. City of London Police confirmed that July that they would take no further action against him due to insufficient evidence.</p><p data-block-key=\"udhm1\">In June 2017, Pishevar, known for his investments in companies like Uber and AirBnB, obtained an injunction in England to prevent UK publication The Sun from publishing his name in any future articles about the incident, according to the memo.</p><p data-block-key=\"vanb2\">A confidential source reached out to Fast Company senior news editor Marcus Baram in New York, alleging that they possessed a copy of Pishevar’s arrest report. Baram met with the individual in Washington, D.C., in September 2017 and received a copy of the alleged police report.</p><p data-block-key=\"haag0\">Fast Company published an article containing a statement from Pishevar confirming his arrest, as well as details provided from the source and report in November. The police report was later proven to be fabricated.</p><p data-block-key=\"ym9fl\">In early August, lawyers representing Pishevar filed an application for discovery by a foreign party to serve Fast Company — through Mansueto, the legal entity controlling the magazine — with a subpoena to produce information. The memo stated the information was for use in “contemplated criminal and civil proceedings in England,” or possible future court cases.</p><p data-block-key=\"kbb5i\">The application was granted by a federal judge for the Southern District of New York on Aug. 9.</p><p data-block-key=\"ng5lt\">The subpoena, obtained by the Tracker, asked for all documents and communications relating to the forged police report, particularly any information that could be used to determine the identity of the forger and anyone who helped distribute the report. Fast Company largely complied with the subpoena, with lawyers for both parties exchanging emails in September and October.</p><p data-block-key=\"09kqw\">Fast Company did not, however, provide information that would have identified Baram’s confidential source, stating that Baram claimed reporter’s privilege under New York’s shield law. Lucas Bento, an attorney for Pishevar, acknowledged in an email to Fast Company’s general counsel Alison Anthoine that such identifying information was the central aim of the subpoena.</p><p data-block-key=\"qrkou\">“While we recognize the source’s name is not being redacted in any of the documents, can you please provide us further information about the individual who distributed the forged police report to Mr. Baram,” Bento wrote, “including his or her name or alias, contact information, Signal contact information (including screen name and number), or other identifying information (such as gender, race, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, glasses, or dress).”</p><p data-block-key=\"txj6h\">Bento also threatened to pursue a court-ordered deposition of Baram if Fast Company did not provide the identifying information voluntarily. In subsequent emails, Anthoine provided information about the individual whom the source said provided them the report, but not about the source.</p><p data-block-key=\"tr5dh\">Bento followed through on the threat to pursue testimony and documents from Baram, <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/tech-investor-attempts-compel-us-journalist-identify-confidential-source/\">filing an application for additional discovery</a> on Oct. 31, 2019. Attorneys for Baram filed a memo in opposition to the application on Dec. 4.</p><p data-block-key=\"hy9vs\"><i>Editor's Note: This article was updated to reflect that Shervin Pishevar confirmed his arrest to Fast Company.</i></p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"qnft3\">A portion of the subpoena for documents from Fast Company on behalf of tech investor Shervin Pishevar</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "New York",
"abbreviation": "NY"
},
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{
"title": "Wisconsin think tank sues governor for leaving its news service off media advisory list",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/wisconsin-think-tank-sues-governor-leaving-its-news-service-media-advisory-list/",
"first_published_at": "2020-01-31T20:03:32.499693Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-21T16:51:48.786549Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-21T16:51:48.688942Z",
"date": "2019-08-06",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Madison",
"longitude": -89.40123,
"latitude": 43.07305,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"pydxt\">The MacIver Institute for Public Policy, a Wisconsin-based think tank, sued Governor Tony Evers on Aug. 6, 2019, alleging that his office discriminated against MacIver’s News Service when excluding it from the administration’s media advisory list.</p><p data-block-key=\"50w1x\">According to the complaint, the MacIver News Service and its reporters are credentialed by the Wisconsin State Legislature to work as part of the Capitol press corps, and regularly interview state legislators and public officials.</p><p data-block-key=\"2nx2n\">The News Service was on the previous administration’s media list, the institute’s lawyer Daniel Suhr told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. When Evers took office, News Director Bill Osmulski and his former colleague Matt Kittle asked to be added to the new list. According to the complaint, they received no response and were never added to the list of approximately 1,000 local, state and national reporters and outlets.</p><p data-block-key=\"l45yv\">The complaint also details the barring of MacIver reporters from a press briefing on Feb. 28, 2019, to which 26 members of the Capitol press corps had been invited. Kittle and Osmulski attempted to RSVP and arrived at the designated time, but were not permitted to attend as they were not on the invitee list.</p><p data-block-key=\"h5f0i\">Suhr told the Tracker that on April 4 he sent a letter to Evers’ office stating that the administration had violated the News Service’s First Amendment Rights and asking for the reasoning behind excluding the outlet.</p><p data-block-key=\"4xleh\">A few weeks later, the governor’s legal counsel responded that Evers’ communication’s office “invites some journalists to limited access events, such as exclusive interviews, on a case-by-case basis using neutral criteria, namely newspaper circulation, radio listenership, and TV viewership.”</p><p data-block-key=\"w9veg\">The News Service subsequently filed a public records request, Suhr said, seeking any documentation outlining the “neutral criteria” used by Evers’ staff. According to the complaint, Evers’ staff denied the request based on attorney-client privilege.</p><p data-block-key=\"1hinw\">The MacIver Institute then filed their lawsuit against Governor Evers in August, alleging he violated its staffers’ constitutional rights to free speech, freedom of the press and equal access. The Institute also motioned for a preliminary injunction from the court that would force Evers’ office to add the News Service to the media advisory list before a ruling is reached in the case.</p><p data-block-key=\"6wguq\">In its write-up of the suit, The Associated Press <a href=\"https://apnews.com/98c5eb27e33248e78e3f8b62e4eb072a\">reported</a> that governors from both parties have held similar briefings in the past, and that such briefings have typically been open only to certain invited reporters, not the entire press corps.</p><p data-block-key=\"nx6t7\">The AP also published a statement by Evers’ spokeswoman, Melissa Baldauff, that Evers believes strongly in a “fair and unbiased press corps” and remains committed to openness and transparency.</p><p data-block-key=\"ogy1c\">In a brief in opposition to the injunction, Evers’ counsel argued that the existing media list is comprised of journalists and news organizations that “meet criteria which focus on whether the requestor is a bona fide press organization,” and that the MacIver News Service does not.</p><p data-block-key=\"n0oyd\">A memo dated June 26 from the governor’s Office of Legal Counsel was filed alongside the brief, outlining the criteria used to determine whether a journalist or outlet is “bona fide.” The factors listed are based on the standards used by the <a href=\"http://presscredentials.legis.wisconsin.gov/\">Wisconsin Capitol Correspondents Board</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.dailypress.senate.gov/?page_id=70\">US Congress</a>, and include in part:</p><ul><li data-block-key=\"6fmjj\">Is the petitioner employed by or affiliated with an organization whose principal business is news dissemination?</li><li data-block-key=\"ge0zl\">Is the petitioner a bona fide correspondent of repute in their profession, and do they and their employing organizations exhibit the following characteristics?</li><li data-block-key=\"5qs8l\">Both avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest;</li><li data-block-key=\"ywiij\">Both resist pressures from advertisers, donors, or any other special interests to influence coverage;</li><li data-block-key=\"lncit\">Is the petitioner or its employing organization engaged in any lobbying, paid advocacy, advertising, publicity or promotion work for any individual, political party, corporation or organization?</li></ul><p data-block-key=\"v0lk1\">The brief asserts that the Governor’s office concluded that the MacIver News Service does not meet these criteria.</p><p data-block-key=\"82d5w\">“The MacIver Institute is not principally a news organization. On its website, it characterizes itself as ‘a Wisconsin-based think tank that promotes free markets, individual freedom, personal responsibility and limited government,’” the brief reads. “The organization’s ‘news’ branch makes no effort to distinguish itself from the overall organization mission.”</p><p data-block-key=\"s1f95\">In response to these claims, Suhr told the Tracker that the MacIver Institute is a 501(c)3 and therefore legally barred from engaging in political activity, and the Institute is not registered as a political lobbyist. Suhr asserted that news with a perspective has become commonplace in the new media environment, and doesn’t inherently delegitimize the reporting such outlets produce.</p><p data-block-key=\"0hkqm\">“When government sets up criteria for media, it’s easy to default to this old-school, traditional criteria, to impose requirements like ‘broadcast to a certain number of households,’ or to require that you be a print news outlet,” Shur said, referencing <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/nevada-judges-orders-online-journalist-reveal-sources-says-not-protected-shield-law/\">the case of Sam Toll</a> in Nevada. “To some extent what the governor’s office has done here is they defaulted to criteria that were designed for an old media age, and I think they did that to justify their decision after the fact to exclude my client.”</p><p data-block-key=\"dy8nj\">According to the complaint, if the governor’s office had adopted the criteria set by the state legislature, MacIver’s journalists would have qualified as they are already credentialed for the Capitol press corps.</p><p data-block-key=\"5v4ow\">“The new neutral criteria are no salvation: they were not developed openly, are not applied equally, do not permit an opportunity for journalists to show their bona fides, exclude legitimate news outlets besides MacIver, and violate the Constitution,” the complaint states.</p><p data-block-key=\"r4ufn\">The Governor’s office did not respond to the Tracker’s calls or emailed requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"55zfz\">First Amendment experts <a href=\"https://apnews.com/98c5eb27e33248e78e3f8b62e4eb072a\">told the AP</a> that MacIver appears to have a strong case, drawing a parallel between MacIver’s exclusion and President Donald Trump’s attempt to bar CNN reporter <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/white-house-suspends-cnn-reporter-jim-acostas-press-credentials-and-falsely-accuses-him-manhandling-intern/\">Jim Acosta</a>. Neither the attempt to ban Acosta in 2018 nor the White House’s attempt to suspend correspondent<a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/white-house-suspends-correspondents-press-pass-reporter-alleges-retaliation/\">Brian Karem</a> in 2019 were upheld.</p><p data-block-key=\"2catp\">Robert Dreschel, a media law expert and journalism professor at UW-Madison, said it appears Evers’ office had no standards or guidance in place when MacIver was denied access. “That’s very troublesome,” Dreschel said.</p><p data-block-key=\"dpqik\">Shur told the Tracker that he and his clients are still awaiting a ruling on their motion for a preliminary injunction, and that a tentative trial date has been set for early 2021.</p><p data-block-key=\"yossa\">“This case isn’t just important to MacIver, it’s not just important to journalists: it’s important to all of us in America because we all have a stake in a healthy First Amendment and we all have an interest in ensuring an active, vigilant press corps that insists on the transparency and accountability we need from our government to make sure that our democracy functions.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"vaz0m\">Tony Evers speaks at a rally on the eve of his 2018 election as governor of Wisconsin. A think tank has sued the governor's office for leaving its news service off Evers' media advisory list.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Wisconsin",
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"(2021-12-10 12:11:00+00:00) Wisconsin think tank appeal denied by Supreme Court, keeping news service off Gov. media list",
"(2020-03-31 11:26:00+00:00) Federal judge rules Wisconsin gov can bar think tank’s news service"
],
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"Press credential or media list"
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},
{
"title": "White House suspends correspondent’s press pass, reporter alleges retaliation",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/white-house-suspends-correspondents-press-pass-reporter-alleges-retaliation/",
"first_published_at": "2019-08-08T16:20:40.033820Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-11-25T15:50:54.104336Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-11-25T15:50:53.951480Z",
"date": "2019-08-05",
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"city": "Washington",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"r3fbn\">Brian Karem, a White House correspondent for Playboy and political analyst for CNN, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/BrianKarem/status/1157430193788784645\">tweeted</a> that beginning on Aug. 5, 2019, his press pass would be suspended for 30 days.</p><p data-block-key=\"axtgb\">Karem received an email from White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham at around 5 p.m. the Friday before the suspension went into effect notifying him of the “preliminary decision,” citing his actions at President Donald Trump’s social media summit the previous month, The Washington Post <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/03/reporter-says-white-house-suspended-his-credentials-an-attempt-stifle-free-press/\">reported</a>. At a press event in the Rose Garden that day, Karem had a heated exchange with former White House aide and radio host Sebastian Gorka.</p><p data-block-key=\"0f9gq\">Gorka has had at least <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/former-white-house-aide-seb-gorka-shoves-mediaite-reporter-cpac/\">one other altercation with the media</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"jn3iy\">Karem wrote in an <a href=\"https://www.playboy.com/read/don-t-rock-the-boat-or-you-will-lose-access-1\">article</a> for Playboy that the move to pull his press pass was actually in retaliation for him “rock[ing] the boat” and “ask[ing] hard questions” over the last several weeks.</p><p data-block-key=\"avu86\">“They’re claiming [the reason is] something that happened 21 days ago. I’m there every day. If this was an issue, it should’ve been brought to my attention long before now,” Karem told the Post.</p><p data-block-key=\"vne2l\">Playboy and Karem have retained First Amendment attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr., who successfully represented CNN and Jim Acosta when <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/white-house-suspends-cnn-reporter-jim-acostas-press-credentials-and-falsely-accuses-him-manhandling-intern/\">Acosta’s credentials were suspended</a> in November 2018.</p><p data-block-key=\"niwat\">In a <a href=\"https://www.gibsondunn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Karem-White-House-Letter.pdf\">response and appeal to Grisham</a> dated Aug. 5, Boutrous noted that in the letter to Karem, Grisham acknowledged that the White House had not issued any “explicit rules… to govern behavior by members of the press at White House press events.” Citing multiple instances where other attendees at the press event in July engaged in similar behavior to Karem’s but were not censured, Boutrous argued that the suspension was “arbitrary and unfair.”</p><p data-block-key=\"wj7p0\">Boutrous additionally highlighted that Karem had reached out to the press office multiple times to discuss the incident, but the first meeting was canceled and subsequent emails ended without a meeting scheduled.</p><p data-block-key=\"6913w\">“Hard passes are not meant to be weaponized as a means of penalizing reporters for coverage with which the administration disagrees based on amorphous and subjective standards,” Boutrous wrote. “Such actions unconstitutionally chill the free press.”</p><p data-block-key=\"l7lw4\">The White House Correspondents’ Association published a statement in support of Karem on Aug. 4.</p><p data-block-key=\"6fpic\">“We sincerely hope this White House does not again make the mistake of revoking a reporter’s hard pass,” WHCA President Jonathan Karl said in the statement. “The WHCA has stood up to violations of due process rights before and we stand ready to safeguard those rights for all reporters who work to hold our government accountable.”</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"jn7ck\">Former White House staffer Sebastian Gorka walks away after yelling at Playboy writer and White House correspondent Brian Karem (center, in tie and blue suit) and members of the press corps during a summit in the Rose Garden.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "District of Columbia",
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"updates": [
"(2019-08-20 00:00:00+00:00) Reporter sues after his White House press pass was revoked",
"(2020-06-05 13:17:00+00:00) Federal appeals court upholds ruling reinstating reporter’s White House press pass",
"(2019-09-03 11:32:00+00:00) Judge rules White House must restore hard pass for journalist Brian Karem",
"(2022-05-10 13:11:00+00:00) Playboy correspondent reaches settlement in lawsuit against the White House"
],
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"settled"
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"tags": [
"Donald Trump"
],
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],
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],
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],
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},
{
"title": "Private security guard assaults journalist, confiscates camera during summit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/private-security-guard-assaults-journalist-confiscates-camera-during-summit/",
"first_published_at": "2019-08-13T15:53:10.647664Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-27T21:31:24.285492Z",
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"date": "2019-08-03",
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"city": "New Brunswick",
"longitude": -74.45182,
"latitude": 40.48622,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"wc68e\">Charlie Kratovil, founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, filed a police report alleging assault by a private security guard after being forcibly removed from covering an event on Aug. 3, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"098u5\">The NBT news team was invited to cover an education summit hosted by the non-profit Project Ready. Kratovil was covering the event on behalf of a reporter who could not, he <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Charlie4Change/status/1158360810248384512\">tweeted</a>, and planned to record the gala ceremonies and post the video to the outlet’s YouTube channel without any editing. Kratovil said he was there for the keynote speech, given by White House correspondent and CNN analyst April Ryan.</p><p data-block-key=\"b04jq\">Kratovil told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that when he checked in and set up his camera at about 6:45 p.m., the public relations officials did not inform him that there would be any limitations or restrictions on filming the proceedings. Kratovil said that he was able to film the first hour and a half of the event without issue.</p><p data-block-key=\"qbgv0\">When Rep. Donald Payne took the stage to introduce Ryan at approximately 8:30 p.m., Kratovil <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Charlie4Change/status/1158360838580969472\">tweeted</a>, he was approached by a man who said he was “with the speaker,” and asked Kratovil to identify himself. He did so and said he had received approval to cover the event. The man left, Kratovil wrote, but returned and threatened to “take down” his camera if Kratovil did not do so himself.</p><p data-block-key=\"das8a\">Kratovil refused.</p><p data-block-key=\"u5z60\">Over the next several minutes, Kratovil debated with the man, later identified as Ryan’s private security guard Joel Morris, and several public relations officials who began to gather around his table, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Charlie4Change/status/1158360843911929856\">according to his account</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"7nkmd\">“I maintained a firm position re: video recording, saying I wouldn’t take action until I could get more info on the man who threatened to mess w/ my camera,” Kratovil <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Charlie4Change/status/1158360845300244480\">tweeted</a>. “I told them ‘If he doesn’t give me his name & tell me on the record why I can’t [video], I’m not turning off the camera.’”</p><p data-block-key=\"h6x7e\">In <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obZ9zZ8IBEg\">Kratovil’s video</a>, security guard Morris can be seen approaching Ryan onstage, who pauses her speaking, appears to look at Kratovil’s camera and nods. Ryan remains silent as Morris then walks towards Kratovil’s camera, grabs it and walks off.</p><p data-block-key=\"b8nn7\">In the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obZ9zZ8IBEg\">video</a>, which keeps recording, Ryan resumes speaking as Morris grabs the camera and is heard trying to explain the interruption. “When I speak, I don’t have news covering my speech,” Ryan said, adding that she wanted to have an “unfettered conversation with you all.”</p><p data-block-key=\"tovyn\">However, New Brunswick-based reporter Chuck O’Donnell from TAPInto, a network of local news websites, was allowed to remain in the room.</p><p data-block-key=\"7yybv\">Kratovil told the Tracker that he quickly gathered up his belongings and followed after Morris.</p><p data-block-key=\"6f7b0\">According to a police report about the incident filed by Kratovil, Morris walked to the front lobby and turned over Kratovil’s camera to the security staff at the hotel’s front desk. The camera was shortly returned to Kratovil.</p><p data-block-key=\"5dz9i\">Kratovil shared with the Tracker <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/Charlie4Change/videos/vb.252573682529/514171555999335/?type=2&theater\">a surveillance recording</a> from the lobby that shows Kratovil holding his camera and moving away from Morris. In the video, Kratovil can be heard saying, “This guy is chasing me.” Morris quickly moves around behind him, and appears to grab and twist Kratovil’s left arm behind his back while pushing him out of the frame.</p><p data-block-key=\"se56i\">The police report noted the injury.</p><p data-block-key=\"c2aqq\">“According to Kratovil,” Officer Ryan Daughton wrote in the police report, “the privately hired Security Guard utilized some kind of compliance hold and subsequently caused pain to Kratovil’s left wrist. I offered Kratovil medical attention and he refused the same.”</p><p data-block-key=\"h8l99\">Kratovil told the Tracker that he ended up seeking care at an urgent care a few days after the incident, where they advised him to treat his shoulder injury as a sprain. He said he plans to press charges.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"4tz26\">While giving the keynote speech at an event in New Jersey, White House correspondent April Ryan is informed of video recording by a member of her private security (back to the camera). The camera was then confiscated.</p>",
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"assailant": "private security",
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{
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}
],
"state": {
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},
"updates": [
"(2019-08-20 13:05:00+00:00) Ryan speaks out; Hearing delayed to no-show"
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"tags": [
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"categories": [
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},
{
"title": "Owner and reporter for Texas weekly threatened, arrest warrant issued",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/owner-and-reporter-texas-weekly-threatened-arrest-warrant-issued/",
"first_published_at": "2019-10-08T20:37:56.915869Z",
"last_published_at": "2019-10-08T20:37:56.915869Z",
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"date": "2019-08-01",
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"city": "Rio Grande City",
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"latitude": 26.37979,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p>Dina Garcia-Peña, owner of the El Tejano newspaper, received a threatening message from a man on Aug. 1, 2019, the same day her outlet published a news item about his indictment.</p><p>Garcia-Peña told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that the weekly newspaper often covers crime in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, publishing breaking news on the outlet’s Facebook page where it has an active social media following.</p><p>“One of the things that we do is we publish posts having to do with small crimes, and grand jury results have become quite popular,” Garcia-Peña said.</p><p>Garcia-Peña told the Tracker that shortly after El Tejano reported on a grand jury’s decision to indict Lazaro Orlando Banda Treviño on charges of indecency with a child, she received a threat through her personal Facebook account. Police later determined that it was sent from Banda Treviño’s Facebook account.</p><p>Garcia-Peña said the message was in unclear Spanish, but roughly translated to “You need to shut your trap or this will be you.”</p><p>Brenda Lee, law enforcement liaison for the Starr County Attorney’s Office, <a href=\"https://www.krgv.com/videos/arrest-warrant-issued-following-threat-to-valley-reporter/\">confirmed</a> to KRGV Channel 5 News that the message also said in part, “Be informed before moving, you sucker, because soon you will wake up like this. The world is small and I am everywhere.”</p><p>Attached to the message was a picture showing a severed head and a dismembered body, according to KRGV.</p><p>Garcia-Peña told the Tracker that she has received threats before, but this message had more substance and concerned her. She said she reached out to the local district attorney who advised her to contact the special crimes unit.</p><p>Law enforcement liaison Lee told KRGV that local police did not hesitate to take action. “We will not tolerate any news media or any news media outlet being threatened for doing their job,” Lee said.</p><p>Garcia-Peña said that police were able to identify Banda Treviño as the source of the message, but that they believe he left for Mexico sometime in 2018. Police have put out an active warrant for Banda Treviño’s arrest in addition to the indictment he is already facing.</p><p>Garcia-Peña said shortly after KRGV published about the threat she received, Banda Treviño responded with a long, vulgar comment on El Tejano’s Facebook page. Garcia-Peña told the Tracker that this comment did not have threats of violence, but claimed that some of the outlet’s reporting was incorrect.</p><p>The threat has strengthened her relationship with her readers, Garcia-Peña told the Tracker, and she plans to continue working as one of only two reporters covering local crime and politics.</p><p>“I think I’ve gotten more support from my community, more readers,” Garcia-Peña said. “And in terms of me reporting: It hasn’t made me quiet.”</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p>Texas weekly El Tejano on newsstands</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Texas",
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},
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"categories": [
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],
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],
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},
{
"title": "America First Media Group founder ordered to comply with document, testimony requests",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/america-first-media-group-founder-ordered-to-comply-with-document-testimony-requests/",
"first_published_at": "2021-04-16T02:03:39.780727Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-03-13T16:23:37.511575Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-03-13T16:23:37.395951Z",
"date": "2019-07-31",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Washington",
"longitude": -77.03637,
"latitude": 38.89511,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"hok2h\">In the early hours of July 10, 2016, Seth Rich, a 27-year-old staffer with the Democratic National Committee, was <a href=\"https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/man-shot-killed-in-northwest-dc/2074048/\">fatally shot</a> while walking to his home in Washington, D.C. His death, while unsolved, is believed to be the result of a <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2019/08/08/749392506/conspiracyland-debunks-theories-about-murder-of-dnc-staffer-seth-rich\">robbery gone wrong</a>. It quickly, however, became a <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-43727858\">flash point</a> for conspiracy theories: that Rich had been behind a DNC email dump to WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, and that he’d effectively been assassinated because of it. None of the claims have ever been substantiated.</p><p data-block-key=\"8tcvt\">On March 26, 2018, Rich’s brother, Aaron, <a href=\"https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/27/media/seth-rich-brother-sues-washington-times/index.html\">filed a defamation suit</a> in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against a slew of defendants — Texas businessman and then-frequent Fox News guest Ed Butowsky, the Washington Times, America First Media Group and its founder, Matt Couch — who he’d alleged had shown a “reckless disregard for the truth” and falsely linked both himself and his brother to the email leak.</p><p data-block-key=\"q28p7\">During the course of three years of litigation, attorneys for both sides collectively subpoenaed nearly a dozen news outlets and members of the press. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documents all subpoena requests individually; Find a complete overview of the known subpoenas for this case in the blog post, “<a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/blog/nearly-a-dozen-journalists-outlets-and-third-parties-subpoenaed-in-defamation-suit/\">Nearly a dozen journalists, outlets and third parties subpoenaed in defamation suit</a>.”</p><p data-block-key=\"c6kjc\">In January 2021, both <a href=\"https://thedcpatriot.com/statement-from-matt-couch/\">Couch</a> and <a href=\"https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/i-never-had-physical-proof-to-back-up-any-such-statements-former-fox-news-guest-apologizes-to-seth-richs-brother-for-dnc-conspiracy-theory/\">Butowsky</a> publicly apologized and retracted prior claims made about the Rich brothers, though Butowsky deleted his statement of contrition almost immediately, according to Law & Crime. Couch and Rich reached a settlement agreement on Jan. 19; Butowsky and Rich reached an agreement on March 22. The lawsuit was terminated officially when District Judge Richard Leon granted Rich’s motions to dismiss the charges against the defendants on March 29. The details of the settlement agreements were not made public.</p><h4 data-block-key=\"z6kyv\"><b>Matt Couch | America First Media Group founder</b></h4><p data-block-key=\"bmlu4\">Couch published several conspiracy-driven stories about the Riches on AFM’s website and both his personal and the outlet’s social media platforms. He later identified Butowsky as the outlet’s only source for the information it reported.</p><ul><li data-block-key=\"n927g\"><b>April 23, 2019:</b> As part of the discovery process, Rich serves Couch and AFM with a “Request for Production of Documents,” including communications between Couch and AFM and others mentioned in the complaint, documents supporting or refuting Couch’s allegedly defamatory statements, telephonic records showing the conversations Couch or AFM had made or received relating to the allegations in the complaint, and detailed information about AFM’s corporate formation.</li><li data-block-key=\"yo3n2\"><b>June 3, 2019:</b> Rich serves his “First Set of Interrogatories” — a formal set of questions used to determine the facts presented as part of the case — to Couch and AFM.</li><li data-block-key=\"qzwlv\"><b>June 23, 2019:</b> Couch responds to the First Set of Interrogatories but not the documents request.</li><li data-block-key=\"puibh\"><b>July 8, 2019:</b> Rich sends a letter to Couch’s attorney detailing the deficiencies in the response to the interrogatories and requests that they be resolved by July 18.</li><li data-block-key=\"uinrk\"><b>July 15, 2019:</b> Couch sends a letter to Rich and the court stating that he and AFM had answered the interrogatories to the best of their ability and understanding. As a step toward settling the suit, Couch offers to issue Rich an apology.</li><li data-block-key=\"loz1i\"><b>July 23, 2019:</b> Rich files a motion to compel Couch and AFM to comply with their discovery obligations.</li><li data-block-key=\"8ydt0\"><b>July 31, 2019:</b> District Judge Richard Leon orders Couch and AFM to produce documents in response to the documents request.</li><li data-block-key=\"1blfi\"><b>Aug. 14, 2019:</b> Couch files a motion for the court to reconsider the motion to compel, arguing that the court ruled without allowing him sufficient time to respond to the motion.</li><li data-block-key=\"wefoi\"><b>Aug. 26, 2019:</b> Couch produces 50 documents, including a handful of emails between himself and Butowsky, whom he has identified as his primary source for his statements about Aaron Rich and WikiLeaks.</li><li data-block-key=\"smsoh\"><b>Oct. 25, 2019:</b> Couch invokes reporter’s privilege for the first time, informing Rich and the court that he intends to withhold “various items.”</li><li data-block-key=\"qjdoc\"><b>Nov. 21, 2019:</b> Couch formally asserts reporter’s privilege in his refusal to disclose communications with one particular source.</li><li data-block-key=\"fgt7r\"><b>Dec. 6, 2019:</b> Couch states that he refuses to turn over documents, including audio and video files, related to communications with Butowsky and at least three additional sources, citing reporter’s privilege.</li><li data-block-key=\"4g7lj\"><b>Dec. 12, 2019:</b> Couch appears for a deposition wherein he refuses to answer nearly 70 questions posed by Rich’s attorneys.</li><li data-block-key=\"pyrx5\"><b>Jan. 3, 2020:</b> Rich moves to enforce the court’s order requiring Couch to produce documents.</li><li data-block-key=\"7g3l5\"><b>Jan. 17, 2020:</b> Couch files a motion in opposition.</li><li data-block-key=\"nmuke\"><b>Jan. 24, 2020:</b> Judge Leon once again orders Couch to turn over documents — including those withheld on the basis of his claims of reporter’s privilege — by Jan. 31. Leon also orders Couch to choose between sitting for three and a half additional hours of deposition testimony or reaching an agreement with Rich about the issues raised but not answered during his prior deposition.</li><li data-block-key=\"rm04t\"><b>Jan. 31, 2020:</b> Couch files a motion for reconsideration of the court’s ruling that he turn over documents, arguing that they are protected by reporter’s privilege.</li><li data-block-key=\"hgcpp\"><b>Feb. 5, 2020:</b> Leon denies Couch’s motion for reconsideration and orders him to produce the relevant documents within 72 hours or possibly be held in contempt.</li><li data-block-key=\"9hjxb\"><b>Feb. 18, 2020:</b> Rich informs the court that Couch is continuing to withhold information that Leon had ordered him to produce.</li><li data-block-key=\"sj8kw\"><b>March 3, 2020:</b> Rich files another motion to compel Couch to produce relevant documents from Flock, “a multi-party messaging platform that he has used for communications relevant to this case.”</li><li data-block-key=\"rnkjm\"><b>March 4, 2020:</b> Leon rules that Couch’s assertion of reporter’s privilege is without merit, noting that even assuming Couch had not waived that qualified privilege by failing to assert it for months of discovery and had proved that it applies to him, it does not apply, as the information sought goes to the heart of Rich’s allegations and the defendants’ defenses. Leon rules that Couch must produce the withheld information within 48 hours; should he fail to do so, Leon warns that Couch will be held in contempt and fined $2,500 each day he fails to provide the information.</li><li data-block-key=\"hptso\"><b>April 23, 2020:</b> Leon rules that Rich is permitted to complete Couch’s second deposition.</li><li data-block-key=\"6a0ng\"><b>Jan. 14, 2021:</b> Couch posts an apology and retraction on his <a href=\"https://thedcpatriot.com/statement-from-matt-couch/\">website</a> and <a href=\"https://twitter.com/RealMattCouch/status/1349787715643047936\">social media</a>, writing, “Our reports about Aaron Rich were largely driven by information given to us by a single source, who we now believe provided us with false information and who, as of this date, has retracted his statements. Today, we retract and disavow our statements, and we offer our apology to Mr. Rich and his family.”</li><li data-block-key=\"1i3fm\"><b>Jan. 19, 2021</b>: Rich reaches a settlement with Couch and AFM and asks the court to dismiss the charges; Rich continues his case against Butowsky.</li></ul><p data-block-key=\"8voae\"><b>Status of Subpoena</b></p><ul><li data-block-key=\"vyhp7\">Carried out.</li></ul></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "District of Columbia",
"abbreviation": "DC"
},
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"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Matt Couch (America First Media)"
],
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"carried out"
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},
{
"title": "BuzzFeed receives second subpoena in ongoing Unsworth-Musk defamation lawsuit",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/buzzfeed-receives-second-subpoena-ongoing-unsworth-musk-defamation-lawsuit/",
"first_published_at": "2019-10-01T18:25:41.176232Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-05-22T13:49:34.831981Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-05-22T13:49:34.638820Z",
"date": "2019-07-29",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "San Francisco",
"longitude": -122.41942,
"latitude": 37.77493,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"vjaht\">BuzzFeed News was issued a second subpoena in the ongoing defamation case between caver Vernon Unsworth and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on July 29, 2019. In total, <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/?state=California&targeted_institutions=BuzzFeed+News&categories=Subpoena%2FLegal+Order\">five subpoenas were issued for reporting material and testimony</a> from the digital news outlet and one of its reporters.</p><p data-block-key=\"vfhes\">Unsworth is suing Musk for defamation, alleging that the tech executive repeatedly labeled him a pedophile without evidence on Twitter and in communications with BuzzFeed senior tech journalist Ryan Mac, the latter of which were published by the outlet.</p><p data-block-key=\"gawr5\">The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker reviewed the subpoena issued by counsel for Unsworth. The subpoena ordered BuzzFeed to produce all documents and communications produced in response to a previous subpoena by Musk’s counsel, as well as website traffic metrics on the dates articles concerning Musk’s dispute with Unsworth were published and data analytics for interactions with each article on BuzzFeed’s website and social media.</p><p data-block-key=\"ekx5y\">An email exchange between BuzzFeed attorney Kate Bolger and Unsworth attorney Taylor Wilson concerning the subpoena was documented in a subsequent motion. Bolger stated in the exchange, “BuzzFeed will produce the page views you requested provided you agree that no further response to the subpoena is required and that there will be no additional subpoenae.”</p><p data-block-key=\"7blz2\">Wilson agreed not to file additional discovery subpoenas, but reserved the right to seek trial testimony.</p><p data-block-key=\"ed1g0\">BuzzFeed filed formal objections to the subpoena demands on First and 14th Amendment grounds on Aug. 23. The outlet did agree to provide copies of documents prepared in response to the Musk subpoena and non-privileged website traffic and article metrics.</p></div>",
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"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/MacBuzzFeed2.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"yv64q\">A portion of the second subpoena received by BuzzFeed as part of a defamation case between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the caver Vernon Unsworth.</p>",
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"arrest_status": null,
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"detention_date": null,
"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
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"actor": null,
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"denial_of_entry": false,
"stopped_previously": false,
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"assailant": null,
"was_journalist_targeted": null,
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": "journalist communications or work product",
"name_of_business": null,
"third_party_business": null,
"legal_order_venue": "Federal",
"status_of_prior_restraint": null,
"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
"equipment_seized": [],
"equipment_broken": [],
"state": {
"name": "California",
"abbreviation": "CA"
},
"updates": [
"(2019-10-28 00:00:00+00:00) Court quashes subpoena for BuzzFeed documents in case against Elon Musk"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [
"BuzzFeed News"
],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Subpoena/Legal Order"
],
"targeted_journalists": [],
"subpoena_statuses": [
"pending"
],
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "Colorado TV news reporter assaulted while attempting to conduct an interview",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/colorado-tv-news-reporter-assaulted-while-attempting-to-conduct-an-interview/",
"first_published_at": "2019-08-08T16:42:25.437882Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-08T19:41:08.458719Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-08T19:41:08.354852Z",
"date": "2019-07-26",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Colorado Springs",
"longitude": -104.82136,
"latitude": 38.83388,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"c7mv4\">A KRDO News Channel 13 reporter was assaulted while attempting to conduct an interview in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on July 26, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"tey66\">Reporter Stephanie Sierra walked into Tri-Star Masonry with chief photojournalist Chappin Everett at approximately 12:30 p.m. looking to interview the owner, Michael Reeg, in connection with the station’s investigative reporting on illicit spas in Southern Colorado, KRDO <a href=\"https://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/krdo-confrontation-with-interview-subject/1100318696\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"dj3g2\">In the <a href=\"https://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/krdo-confrontation-with-interview-subject/1100318696\">video</a> published by KRDO, Reeg initially agrees to answer Sierra’s questions. When her first question mentions the spa leasing property from Reeg, he cuts her off, tells them to leave and moves toward her.</p><p data-block-key=\"t8azm\">“Why don’t you guys get the hell out of here,” Reeg is heard saying. “I’m telling you to get the hell out of my place. And get that camera out of here.” Reeg can be seen moving past Sierra toward Everett, growing hostile as he attempts to swipe the camera away. A second unidentified man seems to attempt to prevent Reeg from hitting the camera.</p><p data-block-key=\"zl5rx\">According to the police report released to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, “[Sierra] said that [Reeg] then grabbed her wrist as they were walking to the door.”</p><p data-block-key=\"7wbbn\">“She also told me that Mr. Reeg was yelling obscenities at them as they were leaving,” Officer Tyler Koets wrote in the report. “I asked her if any of the interaction caused her pain and she said that it did not, but it was alarming.”</p><p data-block-key=\"b3mte\">The video becomes shaky as the camera is jostled, and it appears that both Sierra and Everett were pushed out of the door. Once outside, Reeg again swipes at the camera and an object can be heard hitting the ground.</p><p data-block-key=\"ou5c2\">In the <a href=\"https://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/krdo-confrontation-with-interview-subject/1100318696\">article</a> for KRDO, Sierra wrote, “Our team decided to file a police report today because of Mr. Reeg’s reaction to our questions after he agreed to answer them and because his actions occurred while we were in the process of leaving his business — as requested.”</p><p data-block-key=\"hlg2x\">Officers issued Reeg a citation for harassment.</p><p data-block-key=\"qkhl6\">Sierra declined to comment until the incident has been fully resolved.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/KRDO_assault.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.png",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"7s676\">Colorado-based television news reporter Stephanie Sierra, right, and chief photojournalist Chappin Everett, behind the camera, were assaulted while attempting an interview. The camera was also attacked.</p>",
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"arrest_status": null,
"release_date": null,
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"unnecessary_use_of_force": false,
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"actor": null,
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"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": "Colorado",
"abbreviation": "CO"
},
"updates": [
"(2023-11-20 00:00:00+00:00) Case likely sealed for business owner who pushed TV journalists"
],
"case_statuses": [],
"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Stephanie Sierra (KRDO-TV)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": []
},
{
"title": "KRDO News chief photojournalist assaulted, equipment attacked",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/krdo-news-chief-photojournalist-assaulted-equipment-attacked/",
"first_published_at": "2021-10-21T16:36:49.515946Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-12-08T19:43:34.534066Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-12-08T19:43:34.338082Z",
"date": "2019-07-26",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Colorado Springs",
"longitude": -104.82136,
"latitude": 38.83388,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ubk4y\">A KRDO News Channel 13 photojournalist was attacked while attempting to conduct an interview in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on July 26, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"xrka2\">Chief photojournalist Chappin Everett walked into Tri-Star Masonry with reporter Stephanie Sierra at approximately 12:30 p.m. looking to interview the owner, Michael Reeg, in connection with the station’s investigative reporting on illicit spas in Southern Colorado, KRDO <a href=\"https://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/krdo-confrontation-with-interview-subject/1100318696\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"kpw75\">In the <a href=\"https://www.krdo.com/news/top-stories/krdo-confrontation-with-interview-subject/1100318696\">video</a> published by KRDO, Reeg initially agrees to answer Sierra’s questions. When her first question mentions the spa leasing property from Reeg, he cuts her off, tells them to leave and moves toward her.</p><p data-block-key=\"9wu0c\">“Why don’t you guys get the hell out of here,” Reeg is heard saying. “I’m telling you to get the hell out of my place. And get that camera out of here.” Reeg can be seen moving past Sierra toward Everett, growing hostile as he attempts to swipe the camera away. A second unidentified man seems to attempt to prevent Reeg from hitting the camera.</p><p data-block-key=\"emz1e\">The video becomes shaky as the camera is jostled, and it appears that both Sierra and Everett are pushed out of the door. Once outside, Reeg again swipes at the camera and an object can be heard hitting the ground.</p><p data-block-key=\"mjkiu\">Everett can be heard saying, “That is pricey. I can’t wait for you to pay for my new camera.” Reeg responds, “You’re on private property, asshole.”</p><p data-block-key=\"1cy9w\">According to the police report released to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, Everett told officers over the phone that a rubber eyepiece may have been knocked off the camera, but otherwise there was no damage to the equipment.</p><p data-block-key=\"eviyz\">Officers issued Reeg a citation for harassment.</p><p data-block-key=\"t110q\">Everett told the Tracker that he would like to reserve comment until the incident has been fully resolved.</p></div>",
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"denial_of_entry": false,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
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"state": {
"name": "Colorado",
"abbreviation": "CO"
},
"updates": [
"(2023-11-20 00:00:00+00:00) Case likely sealed for business owner who pushed TV journalists"
],
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"tags": [],
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"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Chappin Everett (KRDO-TV)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Little Rock recording ban reversed after outcry from media",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/little-rock-recording-ban-reversed-after-outcry-media/",
"first_published_at": "2019-08-06T14:36:05.332446Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T18:51:02.865649Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T18:51:02.757474Z",
"date": "2019-07-23",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Little Rock",
"longitude": -92.28959,
"latitude": 34.74648,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"3alfx\">Two days after the Little Rock Civil Service Commission signed off on a rule allowing the commission to bar anyone from recording the body’s public hearings, the ban was overturned amid outcry and threatened legal action from local media.</p><p data-block-key=\"y9wj6\">The ban was approved just days before the commission was set to hold an appeal hearing for former Little Rock Police Officer Charles Starks. Starks, who is white, was <a href=\"https://katv.com/news/local/little-rock-police-officer-fired-after-internal-investigation-of-deadly-shooting\">fired</a> from the force in May for fatally shooting Bradley Blackshire, a black man, during a February traffic stop. (In April, Pulaski County prosecutors <a href=\"https://katv.com/news/local/little-rock-police-officer-wont-face-charges-in-deadly-shooting\">announced</a> that they would not charge Starks with a crime in Blackshire’s death.)</p><p data-block-key=\"0esq5\">The new rule, which went into effect on July 24, 2019, gave the chairman of the Civil Service Commission discretion to bar all photography, video, and audio recording from the commission’s disciplinary appeal hearings. “The new language says the chairman ‘may’ allow broadcasting ‘provided that the participants will not be distracted, nor will the dignity of the proceedings be impaired,’” the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette <a href=\"https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/jul/24/rule-allows-taping-ban-at-civil-service/\">reported</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"15pah\">Arkansas has robust Freedom of Information and open meetings laws, but the civil service commission was arguing that it could block recording from this meeting because it was an appeal and thus qualified as a judicial proceeding.</p><p data-block-key=\"qtsgv\">Robert Steinbuch, a law professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the co-author of the state's Arkansas Freedom of Information Act textbook, disagreed with that interpretation of the civil service commission’s role in an <a href=\"https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/jul/25/panel-s-new-ban-on-recording-hearings-r/?page=1\">interview</a> with the Democrat-Gazette. Steinbuch told the newspaper that, although the commission performs some quasi-judicial roles, it is not actually a judiciary body.</p><p data-block-key=\"93zop\">“There’s not one, there’s a series of attorney general opinions that say it is well within the citizen's right to record and videotape," Steinbuch told the newspaper. "This is not new. This is well-established. If it's not an executive session, if it's otherwise an open meeting, a public meeting, then you can record."</p><p data-block-key=\"9ay32\">On the morning of July 25, photographers and videographers were both ejected and barred from entering the hearing room at City Hall where the commission was meeting to consider Starks’ appeal. These included Rich Newman, a cameraman from KATV, Little Rock’s Sinclair-owned affiliate. Officers from the Little Rock Police Department also escorted two bloggers, Russ Racop of <a href=\"https://badgovernmentinarkansas.blogspot.com/\">Bad Government In Arkansas</a> and Ean Bordeaux of <a href=\"https://corruptionsucks.blogspot.com/\">Corruption Sucks</a>, out of the hearing room after they declined to stop recording, citing their rights under the state Freedom of Information law.</p><p data-block-key=\"zdg6t\">A reporter for the station, Marine Glisovic, <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KATVMarine/status/1154380315751792640\">raised her objection</a> to the ban in the hearing. “As a media member for Channel Seven I’d like to make a statement on the record that this is in violation of the Freedom of Information Act,” Glisovic said. “I’d like to request that no business be conducted until our corporate attorney can challenge this in court.” Despite this objection, no recording was permitted in the room during the morning session.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-raw_html\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">MORE: Starks’ attorney requested to ban all recordings of this appeal. While I objected on the record and on behalf of <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KATVNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KATVNews</a> the commission is allowing it—violating Arkansas FOI laws. <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/arnews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#arnews</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arpx?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Arpx</a> (photo taken prior to ban request) <a href=\"https://t.co/2PTQ3W6K74\">pic.twitter.com/2PTQ3W6K74</a></p>— Marine Glisovic KATV (@KATVMarine) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/KATVMarine/status/1154380315751792640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 25, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"q1jvx\">The Arkansas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists issued a <a href=\"https://arkansasspj.org/2019/07/25/arkansas-spj-condemns-civil-service-commissions-broadcasting-ban/\">statement</a> decrying the recording ban. “The new rule is bad news for news media and the local community. It also runs afoul of the Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act, which guarantees citizens access to public meetings and public records,” the SPJ statement read.</p><p data-block-key=\"5rwlu\">After consulting with the station’s corporate legal team, KATV hired a local attorney to draft an injunction against the ban. “We let the city know that we planned to file that injunction in the early afternoon if they didn’t rescind that ruling and allow us to be in the hearing,” Nick Genty, KATV’s news director, told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.</p><p data-block-key=\"28mkr\">But before KATV filed its injunction, City Attorney Tom Carpenter announced around 3 p.m. that the city had decided to set aside the new rule. "We recommend at this juncture [that] the ban be withdrawn by the commission," Carpenter said, <a href=\"https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/jul/26/city-bans-then-oks-recording-20190726/?page=1\">according</a> to the Democrat-Gazette. The previously barred photographers and videographers quickly filed back into the room and began filming.</p><p data-block-key=\"3witp\">In an interview with the Tracker, Carpenter said while the rule was defensible under rules set out for trials by the Arkansas Supreme Court, it did not have the backing of city leadership. “Since the commission is appointed by the city, without the city’s approval it didn’t make sense to have the rule,” he said.</p><p data-block-key=\"f7kcf\">News Director Genty said he was glad the ban was lifted without KATV having to file the injunction. “We never want to be the story. We just want to cover the story, that’s all we were asking to do,” he said. “They were treating it as a court of law, but this wasn’t; this was a city civil service commission meeting.”</p></div>",
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{
"title": "Documentary filmmaker shot with 'crowd-control ammunition' while filming protests in Puerto Rico",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/documentary-filmmaker-shot-crowd-control-ammunition-while-filming-protests-puerto-rico/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-31T12:31:25.175284Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-04T17:51:17.462488Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-04T17:51:17.376684Z",
"date": "2019-07-23",
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"city": "San Juan",
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"ncyli\">Documentary filmmaker Ricardo Olivero Lora was shot with a round of "crowd-control ammunition" while filming police officers dispersing protesters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the early morning of July 23, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"co7fx\">Olivero Lora told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he was filming between 1 and 3 a.m., carrying his professional camera and clearly identified with credentials issued by the Puerto Rico Documentary Association.</p><p data-block-key=\"zbe11\">“I was clearly identified with that and I also had a big camera, so it would be difficult for someone to confuse me for a protester,” Olivero Lora said.</p><p data-block-key=\"2s5be\">In the <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Fuertefuerte2/status/1154897988218740736\">video</a> Olivero Lora published via Fuertefuerte, an officer can be seen removing a canister from a riot gun and reloading before turning and firing in Olivero Lora’s direction. As Olivero Lora turns after being shot, there appears to be at least one person standing a short distance behind him.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-raw_html\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Un policía dispara a uno de nuestros documentalistas. - Equipo Fuertefuerte (Viejo San Juan, madrugada del 23 de julio) <a href=\"https://t.co/K8KjbwClNC\">pic.twitter.com/K8KjbwClNC</a></p>— Fuertefuerte (@Fuertefuerte2) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Fuertefuerte2/status/1154897988218740736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"qupus\">Olivero Lora told the Tracker that he did not know whether he had been directly targeted by the officer.</p><p data-block-key=\"g89tb\">“I was concentrated on the camera and getting the shot, so I cannot say whether there was someone next to me or close to me,” Olivero Lora said. “What I can tell you without a doubt is that he fired in my direction and it hit me, but mildly.”</p><p data-block-key=\"sutkh\">Olivero Lora told the Tracker that it felt as though he had been hit in the leg with a couple of marbles. He added that because of the distance from which he was filming, he was not bruised or otherwise injured.</p><p data-block-key=\"dqykw\">The New York Times <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/27/us/puerto-rico-violence-protests.html\">reported</a> that Puerto Rican police were using shotguns that included rubber-coated metal pellets, but that they could also be loaded with rock salt, bore cleaners or noise rounds that cause less severe injuries.</p><p data-block-key=\"l1m1a\">When asked if he continued filming after the incident, Olivero Lora told the Tracker, “Of course, of course.”</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ima60\">Documentary filmmaker Ricardo Olivero Lora was hit with crowd-control ammunition while filming a protest calling for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 23, 2019, police clash.</p>",
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"name": "Puerto Rico",
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{
"title": "Photojournalist struck in the head by rubber bullet while covering Puerto Rico protests",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/photojournalist-struck-head-rubber-bullet-while-covering-puerto-rico-protests/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-26T17:12:59.073348Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T18:51:19.074903Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T18:51:18.980493Z",
"date": "2019-07-17",
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"city": "San Juan",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"xh690\">Joe Raedle, a photojournalist for Getty Images, was hit by a rubber bullet while covering protests in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 17, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"3be78\">Raedle was covering protests outside La Fortaleza, the official residence of Governor Ricardo Rosselló, where demonstrators were gathered for the fifth night to demand the governor’s resignation.</p><p data-block-key=\"ghk4u\">Violent clashes between protesters and police began to break out during the evening protests, WAPA-TV broadcast reporter Orlando Rivera Martinez <a href=\"https://cpj.org/blog/2019/07/puerto-rico-journalist-safety-protests-rossello.php\">told the Committee to Protect Journalists</a>. Rivera himself <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-reporter-struck-rubber-bullet-rock-while-covering-puerto-rico-protests/\">was struck by a rubber bullet</a> while covering the protests on July 15.</p><p data-block-key=\"s03mb\">“During the nights, authorities have been shooting gas and rubber bullets at the protesters,” Rivera said. “And I—and a lot of journalists—have been close by, in the middle of it.”</p><p data-block-key=\"tz783\">On July 17, some protesters were throwing firecrackers, beer, bottles of water and glowsticks at police surrounding Rosselló’s mansion. After issuing a warning to the crowd to disperse, officers shot rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd.</p><p data-block-key=\"jj3ds\">Raedle was struck by a rubber bullet presumably fired by police at around 11 p.m., El Nuevo Día <a href=\"https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/regresanasuslaboreslosfotoperiodistasheridosdurantemanifestaciones-2506493/\">reported</a><b>.</b></p><p data-block-key=\"6s0jf\">A photo taken by El Nuevo Día photojournalist Xavier Araújo Berríos shows blood dripping down Raedle’s face. Fellow journalist Benjamín Torres Gotay tweeted the next day that Raedle’s wounds were the product of a rubber bullet.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-raw_html\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">Así terminó anoche, tras ser impactado por una bala de goma disparada por la Polcía, el fotógrafo Joe Readle, de la agencia fotográfica internacional Getty Images. Foto por <a href=\"https://twitter.com/photoxabo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@photoxabo</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/d7eMJZUnKv\">pic.twitter.com/d7eMJZUnKv</a></p>— Benjamín Torres Gotay 🇵🇷 (@TorresGotay) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TorresGotay/status/1151979641206431749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 18, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"5xl40\">Raedle was transported to a local hospital where his wounds were bandaged, a Getty Images spokesman <a href=\"https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/regresanasuslaboreslosfotoperiodistasheridosdurantemanifestaciones-2506493/\">told</a> El Nuevo Día. He was quickly released, the spokesman said, and returned to covering the demonstrations.</p><p data-block-key=\"r0znk\">A second journalist, Telemundo cameraman Jorge Figueroa, was injured on the same night. Figueroa was recording amid the crowd when the police began to fire tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, El Nuevo Día reported. In the middle of the ensuing chaos, Figueroa was pushed by demonstrators and fell.</p><p data-block-key=\"czor6\">The cameraman was noticed by police officers who helped him up and transported him to the press center of La Fortaleza. In his <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2450854575198305&set=pb.100008213582728.-2207520000.1563479802.&type=3&theater\">Facebook post</a> about the incident, Figueroa wrote that he was well.</p><p data-block-key=\"grpv9\">The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker only counts incidents where a journalist affected by tear gas, pepper spray or other mass riot control agents if the individual suffers serious injury or appears to have been specifically targeted.</p><p data-block-key=\"0sq1c\">On July 24, after multiple nights of protests, Gov. Rosselló announced he would step down on Aug. 2.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"mv24b\">Police clash with demonstrators during the fifth day of protests calling for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Several journalists were injured.</p>",
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"name": "Puerto Rico",
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"tags": [
"protest",
"shot / shot at"
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{
"title": "Broadcast reporter struck by a rock while covering Puerto Rico protests",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-reporter-struck-by-a-rock-while-covering-puerto-rico-protests/",
"first_published_at": "2021-11-12T18:17:47.171522Z",
"last_published_at": "2021-11-12T18:17:47.171522Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2021-11-12T18:17:47.124316Z",
"date": "2019-07-15",
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"city": "San Juan",
"longitude": null,
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"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p>NotiCentro WAPA-TV broadcast reporter Orlando Rivera Martinez was injured while covering protests in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 15, 2019.</p><p>Rivera was covering protests outside La Fortaleza, the official residence of Gov. Richardo Rosselló, where demonstrators were gathered for the third night to demand the governor’s resignation. </p><p>“During the nights, authorities have been shooting gas and rubber bullets at the protesters,” Rivera <a href=\"https://cpj.org/blog/2019/07/puerto-rico-journalist-safety-protests-rossello.php\">told the Committee to Protect Journalists</a>, a founding partner of the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. “And I — and a lot of journalists — have been close by, in the middle of it.”</p><p>It was under these conditions that Rivera said he and his photographer were shot at. Rivera told CPJ that he was struck by one, and the overwhelming pain caused him to fall. The Tracker has documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-reporter-struck-rubber-bullet-rock-while-covering-puerto-rico-protests/\">here</a>.</p><p>Rivera continued documenting the protests that night, however, but sought safer ground on a third-story balcony to keep observing the protests.</p><p>“And then, a protester threw a rock at the police and I got hit in the abdomen,” Rivera told CPJ. </p><p>In a <a href=\"https://www.wapa.tv/noticias/locales/asi-transcurrieron-las-manifestaciones-la-noche-del-lunes_20131122456403.html\">video posted by WAPA-TV</a>, Rivera can be seen laying down on the floor, writhing in pain and tapping his right side where a bruise appears to be forming.</p><p>Security forces <a href=\"http://laestrella.com.pa/internacional/america/gobernador-puerto-rico-condena-manifestacion-10-heridos-3-detenidos/24130095\">told La Estrella de Panamá</a> that 10 people were injured that night, including several policemen and “a journalist, who was attacked with a stone.” </p><p>Rivera told CPJ that while no one had expected the scale of the protests, his station did provide him with a gas mask and a bulletproof vest. He also said that while some protesters were aggressive and did not want to be filmed, he and his photographer didn’t encounter much hostility. </p><p>When asked if he would continue documenting the protests moving forward, Rivera said, “Yes I will. And if it gets aggressive and violent, I will try to find a safe spot—though you never know.”</p><p>On July 24, after multiple nights of protests, Gov. Rosselló announced he would step down on Aug. 2.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This was the moment thousands of protesters, standing in front of the governors mansion, tonight, heard the governor say he is resigning <a href=\"https://t.co/PhmVDGpe4A\">pic.twitter.com/PhmVDGpe4A</a></p>— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1154261634833162240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 25, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>",
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"name": "Puerto Rico",
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{
"title": "Broadcast reporter struck by a rubber bullet while covering Puerto Rico protests",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-reporter-struck-rubber-bullet-rock-while-covering-puerto-rico-protests/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-26T14:35:48.257691Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-07-30T02:49:27.078510Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-07-30T02:49:27.011694Z",
"date": "2019-07-15",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "San Juan",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"4d5vi\">NotiCentro WAPA-TV broadcast reporter Orlando Rivera Martinez was injured while covering protests in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 15, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"u2yaw\">Rivera was covering protests outside La Fortaleza, the official residence of Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, where demonstrators were gathered for the third night to demand the governor’s resignation.</p><p data-block-key=\"nahey\">“During the nights, authorities have been shooting gas and rubber bullets at the protesters,” Rivera <a href=\"https://cpj.org/blog/2019/07/puerto-rico-journalist-safety-protests-rossello.php\">told the Committee to Protect Journalists</a>, a founding partner of the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. “And I — and a lot of journalists — have been close by, in the middle of it.”</p><p data-block-key=\"j6xof\">It was under these conditions that Rivera said he and his photographer were shot at. Rivera told CPJ that he was struck by one, and the overwhelming pain caused him to fall.</p><p data-block-key=\"0xqrb\">Rivera continued documenting the protests that night, however, but sought safer ground on a third-story balcony to keep observing the protests.</p><p data-block-key=\"q05ek\">“And then, a protester threw a rock at the police and I got hit in the abdomen,” Rivera told CPJ. The Tracker has documented that incident <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/broadcast-reporter-struck-by-a-rock-while-covering-puerto-rico-protests/\">here</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"k978h\">In a <a href=\"https://www.wapa.tv/noticias/locales/asi-transcurrieron-las-manifestaciones-la-noche-del-lunes_20131122456403.html\">video posted by WAPA-TV</a>, Rivera can be seen laying down on the floor, writhing in pain and tapping his right side where a bruise appears to be forming.</p><p data-block-key=\"b7tpw\">Security forces <a href=\"http://laestrella.com.pa/internacional/america/gobernador-puerto-rico-condena-manifestacion-10-heridos-3-detenidos/24130095\">told La Estrella de Panamá</a> that 10 people were injured that night, including several policemen and “a journalist, who was attacked with a stone.”</p><p data-block-key=\"27bdp\">Rivera told CPJ that while no one had expected the scale of the protests, his station did provide him with a gas mask and a bulletproof vest. He also said that while some protesters were aggressive and did not want to be filmed, he and his photographer didn’t encounter much hostility.</p><p data-block-key=\"1k9jq\">When asked if he would continue documenting the protests moving forward, Rivera said, “Yes I will. And if it gets aggressive and violent, I will try to find a safe spot—though you never know.”</p><p data-block-key=\"i7vbo\">On July 24, after multiple nights of protests, Gov. Rosselló announced he would step down on Aug. 2.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This was the moment thousands of protesters, standing in front of the governors mansion, tonight, heard the governor say he is resigning <a href=\"https://t.co/PhmVDGpe4A\">pic.twitter.com/PhmVDGpe4A</a></p>— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1154261634833162240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 25, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/RTX6ZVVI.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"10r46\">Demonstrators in San Juan, Puerto Rico, called for the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló for nearly two weeks in protests that left several injured.</p>",
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"state": {
"name": "Puerto Rico",
"abbreviation": "PR"
},
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"tags": [
"protest",
"shot / shot at"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Orlando Rivera Martinez (WAPA-TV)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Toledo news van shot at, no injuries but damage to news vehicle",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/toledo-news-van-shot-at-no-injuries-but-damage-to-news-vehicle/",
"first_published_at": "2021-10-21T16:54:34.797679Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-30T14:49:09.549321Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-30T14:49:09.462678Z",
"date": "2019-07-13",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Toledo",
"longitude": -83.55521,
"latitude": 41.66394,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"p29za\">While returning from a news event, a WTVG news crew van was shot at on July 13, 2019, in Toledo, Ohio.</p><p data-block-key=\"d60g4\">WTVG <a href=\"https://www.13abc.com/content/news/Shot-fired-at-13abc-news-vehcile-512692591.html\">reported</a> that the member of the news crew was heading back to the station at around 8:30 p.m. following an event at the Toledo Museum of Art when multiple shots were fired at the station’s vehicle.</p><p data-block-key=\"jleqi\">Investigative reporter Shaun Hegarty posted a photo of the damage to the vehicle to Twitter following the incident. Hegarty later told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that there were two members of the WTVG news crew in the van.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Shot fired at 13abc news vehicle. No members of our news team were injured <a href=\"https://t.co/XeXDwWa5Jx\">https://t.co/XeXDwWa5Jx</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/13abc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#13abc</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/TicgZSkdoM\">pic.twitter.com/TicgZSkdoM</a></p>— Shaun Hegarty (@Shaun_Hegarty) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Shaun_Hegarty/status/1150230592841289729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"yca0b\">The Toledo Blade, WTVG’s media partner, <a href=\"https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2019/07/13/channel-13-vehicle-hit-gunfire-toledo-museum-of-art/stories/20190713154\">reported</a> that police at the scene collected multiple shell cases. No members of the news team were injured.</p><p data-block-key=\"bgki8\">Hegarty later <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Shaun_Hegarty/status/1150248959769600001\">posted</a> to Twitter that the police believe they’ve identified the silver Ford Mustang involved in the shooting.</p><p data-block-key=\"0gpcz\">The Toledo Police Department was not immediately available for comment. The department’s investigation is ongoing.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"assailant": "unknown",
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"state": {
"name": "Ohio",
"abbreviation": "OH"
},
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"tags": [
"shot / shot at"
],
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"categories": [
"Assault"
],
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"Unidentified journalist 2 (WTVG)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Two journalists assaulted while covering protest in Salt Lake City",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-journalists-assaulted-while-covering-protest-in-salt-lake-city/",
"first_published_at": "2021-10-21T17:01:25.583132Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-09-21T20:54:41.689384Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-09-21T20:54:41.626408Z",
"date": "2019-07-13",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Salt Lake City",
"longitude": -111.89105,
"latitude": 40.76078,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"eq3je\">Larry Curtis, a web editor for KUTV 2News was assaulted on July 9, 2019, while covering a protest in Salt Lake City, Utah.</p><p data-block-key=\"dqu08\">Matthew Michela, a photojournalist for KUTV filmed a verbal confrontation as it escalated into a physical scuffle. “It was my job to capture the good and the bad; that’s when the man approached me and put his hand on the lens,” Michela <a href=\"https://kutv.com/news/local/kutv-photographer-assaulted-during-protest-of-inland-port\">told KUTV</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"rw58d\">In <a href=\"https://twitter.com/JeremyHarrisTV/status/1148758844270530560\">the video Michela captured</a>, the man is heard saying, “Stop fucking filming! Turn around!” Michela responds, “I have a right to be here, sir.” The man, holding his hand over the lens, responds, “Fuck you, no. No!”</p><p data-block-key=\"i1wpj\">Curtis <a href=\"https://kutv.com/news/local/kutv-photographer-assaulted-during-protest-of-inland-port\">wrote in an account</a> published by the outlet, that he “was also at the protest doing a live video on Facebook and rushed into the fray” when he saw Michela surrounded by protesters. In a photo taken by Harmon, Curtis can be seen inserting himself between Michela and some of the protesters.</p><p data-block-key=\"i12e5\">Photos and video taken during the incident show a woman attempting to pull out the cord from the back of Michela’s camera and an arm reaching behind him to pull the camera off his shoulder.</p><p data-block-key=\"y8fyx\">Michela told the Tracker, “Larry came over and broke up the fight before it got too involved.” In the process, Curtis wrote in his account, his credentials were pulled off from around his neck and his shirt was ripped.</p><p data-block-key=\"4kazh\">According to the Tribune, <a href=\"https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/07/11/protesters-involved/\">eight people were ultimately arrested</a> over the course of the protest.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
"teaser": "",
"teaser_image": "https://media.pressfreedomtracker.us/media/images/SLCInlandPortProtest.2e16d0ba.fill-1330x880.jpg",
"primary_video": null,
"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"9kacq\">Larry Curtis, a web editor for Salt Lake City’s KUTV 2News, attempts to protect his colleague, photojournalist Matthew Michela, during a protest near City Hall on July 9, 2019.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
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"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
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"state": {
"name": "Utah",
"abbreviation": "UT"
},
"updates": [],
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"workers_whose_communications_were_obtained": [],
"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"environmentalism",
"protest"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Larry Curtis (KUTV)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "News crew shot at in Toledo, no injuries but damage to news van",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/news-crew-shot-at-in-toledo-no-injuries-but-damage-to-news-van/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-17T15:26:28.190954Z",
"last_published_at": "2025-04-30T14:49:20.270228Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2025-04-30T14:49:20.168461Z",
"date": "2019-07-13",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Toledo",
"longitude": -83.55521,
"latitude": 41.66394,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"yfgft\">While returning from a news event, a WTVG news crew van was shot at on July 13, 2019, in Toledo, Ohio.</p><p data-block-key=\"z6jt8\">WTVG <a href=\"https://www.13abc.com/content/news/Shot-fired-at-13abc-news-vehcile-512692591.html\">reported</a> that the crew member was heading back to the station at around 8:30 p.m. following an event at the Toledo Museum of Art when multiple shots were fired at the station’s vehicle.</p><p data-block-key=\"xhpyv\">Investigative reporter Shaun Hegarty posted a photo of the damage to the vehicle to Twitter following the incident. Hegarty later told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that there were two members of the WTVG news crew in the van.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-tweet\"><div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n <div>\n <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Shot fired at 13abc news vehicle. No members of our news team were injured <a href=\"https://t.co/XeXDwWa5Jx\">https://t.co/XeXDwWa5Jx</a> <a href=\"https://twitter.com/hashtag/13abc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#13abc</a> <a href=\"https://t.co/TicgZSkdoM\">pic.twitter.com/TicgZSkdoM</a></p>— Shaun Hegarty (@Shaun_Hegarty) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Shaun_Hegarty/status/1150230592841289729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n\n</div>\n\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"30tez\">The Toledo Blade, WTVG’s media partner, <a href=\"https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2019/07/13/channel-13-vehicle-hit-gunfire-toledo-museum-of-art/stories/20190713154\">reported</a> that police at the scene collected multiple shell cases. No members of the news team were injured.</p><p data-block-key=\"8phkc\">Hegarty later <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Shaun_Hegarty/status/1150248959769600001\">posted</a> to Twitter that the police believe they’ve identified the silver Ford Mustang involved in the shooting.</p><p data-block-key=\"wei58\">The Toledo Police Department was not immediately available for comment. The department’s investigation is ongoing.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"actor": "unknown",
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"assailant": "unknown",
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{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "vehicle"
}
],
"state": {
"name": "Ohio",
"abbreviation": "OH"
},
"updates": [],
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"tags": [
"shot / shot at"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault",
"Equipment Damage"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Unidentified journalist 1 (WTVG)"
],
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},
{
"title": "Two journalists assaulted while covering a protest in Salt Lake City",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/two-journalists-assaulted-while-covering-protest-salt-lake-city/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-15T18:18:45.084341Z",
"last_published_at": "2022-09-21T20:17:21.624567Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2022-09-21T20:17:21.560511Z",
"date": "2019-07-09",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Salt Lake City",
"longitude": -111.89105,
"latitude": 40.76078,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"run23\">Matthew Michela, a broadcast photojournalist for local KUTV 2News, was assaulted on July 9, 2019, while covering a protest in Salt Lake City, Utah.</p><p data-block-key=\"eh7po\">Michela told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he and his team had been covering the protest over Utah’s planned inland port, a logistics and distribution hub, for a couple of hours when a man came up to protesters gathered outside City Hall and began antagonizing them.</p><p data-block-key=\"czn0n\">Jeremy Harmon, director of photography at the Salt Lake Tribune, told the Tracker that he had arrived at the protest right as the incident began. “There was some guy who had ridden up on his bike and he was shouting at some of the protesters who had just been pushed across the street,” Harmon said. “This guy just kept ratcheting up with more racism, more bile, more transphobia, so I started taking pictures of the interaction.”</p><p data-block-key=\"m48o3\">Michela also filmed the verbal confrontation as it escalated into a physical scuffle. “It was my job to capture the good and the bad; that’s when the man approached me and put his hand on the lens,” Michela <a href=\"https://kutv.com/news/local/kutv-photographer-assaulted-during-protest-of-inland-port\">told KUTV</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"64ve1\">In <a href=\"https://twitter.com/JeremyHarrisTV/status/1148758844270530560\">the video Michela captured</a>, the man is heard saying, “Stop fucking filming! Turn around!” Michela responds, “I have a right to be here, sir.” The man, holding his hand over the lens, responds, “Fuck you, no. No!”</p><p data-block-key=\"jore8\">The man approached Michela from the blindspot on his right created by the camera equipment, and was the first of several people to attempt to prevent Michela from filming. Michela told the Tracker that he was jostled enough to cause the camera to zoom erratically and the recording to stop and start multiple times.</p><p data-block-key=\"qlj9y\">Photos and video taken during the incident show a woman attempting to pull out the cord from the back of Michela’s camera and an arm reaching behind him to pull the camera off his shoulder.</p><p data-block-key=\"b7648\">At one point, Michela said, he felt “the camera being thrown from my shoulder towards the ground. I was able to catch it and prevent it from hitting the ground. It felt like people were pulling at me and at the camera.”</p><p data-block-key=\"gcc8t\">The incident left him shaken, Michela told the Tracker. “At the time I certainly felt threatened and I told the officers that I’d press charges if they ever found the guy,” Michela said. “Normally, to most people, my height is a deterrence. I’ve done this job 10 years and I’ve never had someone lay hands on me.”</p><p data-block-key=\"etuko\">During the same incident, Harmon also had to maneuver around protesters who were attempting to block him from documenting the scene, though he told the Tracker that he was not harmed and did not feel threatened.</p><p data-block-key=\"1puce\">According to the Tribune, <a href=\"https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/07/11/protesters-involved/\">eight people were ultimately arrested</a> over the course of the protest.</p></div>",
"introduction": "",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"ngvhd\">Larry Curtis, a web editor for Salt Lake City’s KUTV 2News, attempts to protect his colleague, photojournalist Matthew Michela, during a protest near City Hall on July 9, 2019.</p>",
"arresting_authority": null,
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"assailant": "private individual",
"was_journalist_targeted": "yes",
"charged_under_espionage_act": false,
"subpoena_type": null,
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"mistakenly_released_materials": false,
"links": [],
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"state": {
"name": "Utah",
"abbreviation": "UT"
},
"updates": [],
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"target_nationality": [],
"targeted_institutions": [],
"tags": [
"environmentalism",
"protest"
],
"politicians_or_public_figures_involved": [],
"authors": [],
"categories": [
"Assault"
],
"targeted_journalists": [
"Matthew Michela (KUTV)"
],
"subpoena_statuses": [],
"type_of_denial": null
},
{
"title": "Judge dismisses defamation suit against Kansas City Star",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/judge-dismisses-defamation-suit-against-kansas-city-star/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-11T18:04:09.539317Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T18:51:45.923430Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2024-02-29T18:51:45.832208Z",
"date": "2019-07-02",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Johnson County",
"longitude": null,
"latitude": null,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"y11m4\">On July 2, 2019, a Kansas district judge threw out a defamation suit against The Kansas City Star brought by Kansas Sen. Majority Leader Jim Denning, which The Star had argued violated its First Amendment rights as a publisher.</p><p data-block-key=\"zxeix\">According to news reports, Denning and his lawyer failed to prove the “actual malice” threshold required for defamation set out by the Supreme Court in its landmark 1960 free speech case <a href=\"https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/376/254/\">New York Times vs. Sullivan</a>. Kansas also has an additional state law that further protects free speech on issues of public concern.</p><p data-block-key=\"47sji\">“Denning had not met the requirements of the Kansas Speech Protection Act, which is designed to end meritless lawsuits that target the exercise of free speech,” according to <a href=\"https://www.kcur.org/post/judge-throws-out-kansas-senator-s-defamation-suit-against-kansas-city-star#stream/0\">the local NPR news station, KCUR</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"nh724\">“With this decision, the judge affirmed that Sen. Denning’s claim against The Star was entirely without merit, and more importantly, he protected the First Amendment rights of The Star and all journalists,” Colleen McCain Nelson, The Star’s editorial page editor, told KCUR.</p><p data-block-key=\"nq649\">The judge also ordered Denning to pay the newspaper’s legal fees, which its lawyer estimated to be around $40,000.</p><p data-block-key=\"3ke7j\">The <a href=\"https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article225208765.html\">suit stems from an opinion page article</a> published in January regarding Medicaid expansion in the state. Steve Rose, the article’s author, was a contributing guest columnist and resigned shortly after the suits were filed.</p><p data-block-key=\"o7mny\">The judge in the case deferred ruling on the defamation suit against Rose as an individual.</p></div>",
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"(2019-10-30 14:48:00+00:00) Judge sets amount of legal fees awarded to newspaper in dismissed defamation suit",
"(2019-07-30 16:19:00+00:00) Kansas judge dismisses defamation lawsuit against newspaper’s guest columnist"
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"Other Incident"
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{
"title": "Portland journalist attacked, equipment stolen at protest",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/portland-journalist-attacked-equipment-stolen-protest/",
"first_published_at": "2019-07-03T19:10:31.748194Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-10-27T21:32:33.056939Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-10-27T21:32:32.936006Z",
"date": "2019-06-29",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Portland",
"longitude": -122.67621,
"latitude": 45.52345,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"6tu58\">Andy Ngo, an independent photojournalist and editor for Quillette, was attacked and had his equipment stolen while documenting an antifa counterprotest in Portland, Oregon, on June 29, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"ndgpu\">Ngo is an out-spoken critic of antifa and has covered antifa demonstrations and protests since 2016, primarily publishing the videos taken on his GoPro to Twitter and YouTube. Ngo <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-journalist-files-assault-charges-following-may-day-protests/\">told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker</a> that he does not wear press identification or badges while covering protests, but openly films and identifies himself as media to those who ask. He also said that he has become well-known to the antifa community in Portland and has “come to expect” their hostility against him.</p><p data-block-key=\"wv8mv\">The far-right group The Proud Boys originally announced the Portland rally for June 29, almost exactly one year after the “Battle of Portland.” That event was marked with street fights and dueling protesters, and was ultimately classified as a riot by the Portland Police Department.</p><p data-block-key=\"re7g3\">In planning an opposition rally, local antifa demonstrators called the Proud Boy rally an “attack,” and published a ”call to defend” the city. The post mentioned Ngo in a section labeled “Violent and Racist Proud Boy Propaganda,” and described him as a “local far-right Islamophobic journalist.”</p><p data-block-key=\"zoq4d\">The day before the rally, Ngo tweeted out screenshots from the post, writing, “I am nervous about tomorrow’s Portland antifa rally. They’re promising ‘physical confrontation’ & have singled me out to be assaulted.”</p><p data-block-key=\"hj8r2\">Ngo and the public relations firm he has contracted to handle his media requests following the incident did not respond to requests for comment.</p><p data-block-key=\"4oxe8\">The Guardian <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/30/portland-police-cement-milkshake-leftwing-rightwing-protests\">reported</a> that early on the day of the protest and counterprotests, Ngo was filming when protesters dumped a milkshake on him. Later video taken by Oregonian journalist Jim Ryan showed Ngo being hit and sprayed with silly string by masked individuals who appeared to be antifa demonstrators at around 1:30 p.m.</p></div>\n<div class=\"block-raw_html\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">First skirmish I’ve seen. Didn’t see how this started, but <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MrAndyNgo</a> got roughed up. <a href=\"https://t.co/hDkfQchRhG\">pic.twitter.com/hDkfQchRhG</a></p>— Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Jimryan015/status/1145067852375851008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 29, 2019</a></blockquote>\r\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></div>\n<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"1u12x\">Ngo <a href=\"https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1145074992398290944\">tweeted</a> that he “was beat on face and head multiple times in downtown in middle of street with fists and weapons” and that he was taken to an emergency room. Ngo also posted photos of his facial abrasions.</p><p data-block-key=\"t8ty6\">In a Wall Street Journal <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-leftist-mob-attacked-me-in-portland-11562109768\">opinion piece</a>, Ngo said that he was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage.</p><p data-block-key=\"51bx0\">A <a href=\"https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/3/20677645/antifa-portland-andy-ngo-proud-boys\">Vox explainer article</a> outlines the history between Ngo, The Proud Boys and antifa, and how Ngo is considered by some to be more of a provocateur than journalist. Some have pointed out that Ngo was the only journalist targeted.</p><p data-block-key=\"o7exm\">For the purposes of the Tracker, Ngo identifies as a journalist, has a track record of publication and was in the process of documenting when he was attacked. For more about how the Tracker counts incidents, see our <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/frequently-asked-questions/\">frequently asked questions</a> page.</p><p data-block-key=\"4tpts\">Portland protests have become a dangerous beat over the past year: the Tracker <a href=\"https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/?categories=10&city=Portland\">has documented multiple journalists</a> covering the demonstrations and riots being injured by far-right and antifa protesters, as well as by Portland police.</p></div>",
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"image_caption": "<p data-block-key=\"l65uf\">In a video opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Andy Ngo shows images and describes being beaten at a protest rally in Portland that involved both right-wing and antifa groups.</p>",
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{
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"name": "Oregon",
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"updates": [
"(2020-06-04 13:20:00+00:00) Conservative writer sues for damages claiming targeted assault, intimidation campaign",
"(2023-08-21 16:58:00+00:00) Writer awarded $300,000 in lawsuit alleging assault, intimidation campaign"
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"anti-fascism",
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"robbery",
"white nationalism"
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"Assault",
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{
"title": "Independent photographer stopped for secondary screening, devices seized",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/independent-photographer-stopped-secondary-screening-devices-seized/",
"first_published_at": "2019-12-19T21:22:08.320394Z",
"last_published_at": "2023-11-06T19:41:13.650974Z",
"latest_revision_created_at": "2023-11-06T19:41:13.535462Z",
"date": "2019-06-28",
"exact_date_unknown": false,
"city": "Detroit",
"longitude": -83.04575,
"latitude": 42.33143,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"l3vls\">Independent photographer Tim Stegmaier was stopped for secondary screening and had his electronic devices confiscated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on June 28, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"swc8l\">Stegmaier was flying in from Shanghai, China, to Detroit, Michigan, after a photojournalism trip to the Philippines when CBP officers pulled him aside for additional screening. In an account published by the ACLU of Ohio titled, <a href=\"https://www.acluohio.org/archives/blog-posts/photographs-and-the-first-amendment-my-harrowing-journey-through-u-s-customs\">“Photographs and the First Amendment. My Harrowing Journey Through U.S. Customs,”</a> Stegmaier wrote that the officers didn’t provide any explanation for why he was flagged.</p><p data-block-key=\"buqrh\">While detained, the officers asked Stegmaier for permission to search his computer.</p><p data-block-key=\"drmk9\">“It is possible that I could have avoided five months of psychological stress with three words: GET A WARRANT,” Stegmaier wrote. “But I was sleep-deprived, and innocent of any crime. So I let them.”</p><p data-block-key=\"ldu63\">The officers took his phone and camera as well. Stegmaier wrote that he waited 4 ½ hours — causing him to miss his connecting flight to Cincinnati, Ohio — before an officer read him his Miranda rights. The officer proceeded to ask questions about why he was in the U.S., where he was planning on traveling next and whether he had had sex with children while abroad.</p><p data-block-key=\"rlgub\">The questions presumably stemmed from photos Stegmaier had taken on his reporting trip. In <a href=\"https://www.acluohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-09-03-Stegmaier-Petition-Final-wo-Attachments_Redacted.pdf\">a petition in support of Stegmaier</a> dated Sept. 3, the ACLU of Ohio wrote, “In Manila, he captured numerous images of abject poverty and desperate conditions. He observed and photographed children swimming in filthy water and industrial waste, surrounded by heaps of plastic garbage and fecal matter.”</p><p data-block-key=\"bzfaz\">The ACLU went on to contextualize the photos: that the presence of unclothed children in public in the Philippines is “unremarkable” and images of such scenes routinely appear in journalistic and other publications.</p><p data-block-key=\"v601g\">When Stegmaier attempted to explain all of this to the CBP officers, he wrote, they were skeptical of his point-and-shoot camera and asserted that he should have “papers” showing that he is a “real” photographer. Stegmaier also wrote that the officers told him that he should consider himself lucky because the supervisory officer believed him enough not to arrest him.</p><p data-block-key=\"zb7mv\">At the end of his detention, Stegmaier wrote that the officers retained possession of his computer, camera and smartphone, along with the tens of thousands of photographs contained therein.</p><p data-block-key=\"7nhws\">“It ruined my trip, as I was forced to halt the planned work that I was going to do in the U.S.,” Stegmaier told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. “I also felt that the seizure damaged my credibility with a couple people that I was in the process of delivering work to. It was debilitating to not have access to my equipment.”</p><p data-block-key=\"baet8\">A month later, Stegmaier received an official Notice of Seizure notifying him that his equipment had been seized because it contained “visual depictions of sexual exploitation of children.”</p><p data-block-key=\"fpv17\">In addition to the formal petition on Stegmaier’s behalf, a coalition of First Amendment organizations — including the National Press Photographers Association and National Coalition Against Censorship — wrote <a href=\"https://www.acluohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NCAC-Letter-USDHS-August-13-Final.pdf\">a letter to CBP urging the return of his equipment</a>.</p><p data-block-key=\"d5j23\">“The possible disregard by DHS of federal and state level constitutional protections granted to Mr. Stegmaier strike at the heart of the most vital rights we strive to defend,” the letter reads. “The seizure of Stegmaier’s laptop, camera, and iPhone has caused untold damage to his professional life, forcing him to halt all of his work activities.”</p><p data-block-key=\"inw8v\">Three months after his equipment was seized, Stegmaier wrote that CBP sent him a letter admitting that there was nothing illegal about his photos. The agency promised to return the equipment on the condition that Stegmaier sign a release waiving his right to sue for the wrongful detention and seizure, or else go through a formal hearing process that could take multiple months.</p><p data-block-key=\"zxpms\">Stegmaier arranged to pick up his equipment in Detroit, during which CBP stopped him again and asked to search his belongings.</p><p data-block-key=\"0r5kh\">“Luckily, I carry the ACLU’s petition letter with me, right next to CBP’s letter admitting I did nothing wrong,” Stegmaier wrote. “I showed these letters to them, and eventually they let me go.”</p><p data-block-key=\"5q6my\">He wrote that when he left Detroit, he took his equipment and his pictures with him.</p><p data-block-key=\"d8puq\">“I don’t have a problem going to other countries to work,” Stegmaier told the Tracker. “I only have a problem returning home to a place where I am supposed to have civilian rights.”</p></div>",
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{
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{
"quantity": 1,
"equipment": "camera"
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"state": {
"name": "Michigan",
"abbreviation": "MI"
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"Border Stop",
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},
{
"title": "An order limiting photography outside Arizona appellate courts gets scaled back after criticism",
"url": "https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/order-limiting-photography-outside-arizona-appellate-courts-gets-scaled-back-after-criticism/",
"first_published_at": "2019-11-19T20:40:14.759634Z",
"last_published_at": "2024-02-29T19:51:49.396098Z",
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"date": "2019-06-28",
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"city": "Phoenix",
"longitude": -112.07404,
"latitude": 33.44838,
"body": "<div class=\"block-rich_text\"><p data-block-key=\"tmqde\">The court of appeals in Phoenix, Arizona, issued an order limiting recording and photography outside of the courthouse on June 28, 2019.</p><p data-block-key=\"4ps2r\">The <a href=\"https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/89/AOs/Administrative%20Order%202019-06.pdf?ver=2019-06-28-173353-557\">order</a> stipulated that, “All types of video recording, photography, including sharing video or live-streaming to social media sites, or other types of broadcasting… are prohibited in any facility during its use as for Court-connected purposes, including building entrances, exits, and adjacent restricted parking areas.”</p><p data-block-key=\"uvo0q\">It also added a provision by which individuals could receive permission to record in restricted areas by applying for approval two days in advance.</p><p data-block-key=\"7nsd2\">A few months later, on Oct. 16, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Brutinel <a href=\"https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/22/admorder/Orders19/2019-126.pdf?ver=2019-10-16-134312-287\">issued an almost identical order</a> that would apply to the appellate court buildings in both Phoenix and Tucson, The Associated Press <a href=\"https://apnews.com/05d94f610bf7462c870bb78b73c9553e\">reported</a>. The order also expanded restrictions of photography and recording to include steps and stairways, patios, hallways and sidewalks, which were not in the original order.</p><p data-block-key=\"3u075\">Supreme Court spokesman Aaron Nash told the AP that the photography ban was intended to reduce disruptions and protect the privacy and security of individuals attending the court, not hinder journalists’ ability to do their jobs. The policy appears to have been issued to unify appellate court policies.</p><p data-block-key=\"p9zyk\">Brutinel’s order received backlash from reporters and attorneys, the Arizona Republic <a href=\"https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/11/07/arizona-supreme-court-scales-back-crackdown-photos-video-near-courthouses/4156891002/\">reported</a>, who claimed the broad rule would hamper the media and the public’s access to newsworthy cases.</p><p data-block-key=\"lq0l6\">National Press Photographers Association lawyer Mickey Osterreicher told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, “It goes far beyond what their authority, I believe, should be. It’s one thing to control what goes on inside the courtroom, but not necessarily what goes on in what is traditionally a public forum outside.”</p><p data-block-key=\"urnmi\">The court issued a <a href=\"https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/22/admorder/Orders19/2019-142.pdf?ver=2019-11-06-150639-460\">narrower order</a> on Nov. 6, maintaining the restrictions of recording and livestreaming, but limiting the scope to within the appellate court buildings. The Republic reported that the revised order also removed wording allowing court officials to demand individuals delete photos or videos taken of them without their permission.</p><p data-block-key=\"goa8t\">The order also revised stipulations from barring recording in outdoor areas to prohibiting “any activity that threatens any person, disrupts court operations, or compromises court security.”</p><p data-block-key=\"c6br6\">Maria Polletta, state government and politics reporter for The Republic, told the Tracker that reporters on the beat were taken aback by the first order, and they’re waiting to see how the scaled back version is implemented.</p><p data-block-key=\"8epn8\">“It’s obviously less sweeping than the first version,” Polletta said. “But as First Amendment attorneys have said, ‘disruptive’ is very subjective and it could still end up being applied to media while they’re just doing their jobs.”</p></div>",
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"state": {
"name": "Arizona",
"abbreviation": "AZ"
},
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"Media"
],
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"Judiciary: State Court"
],
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"categories": [
"Denial of Access"
],
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"Change in policy or practice"
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}
]
