Journalist Josh Wolf returns to prison for refusing to turn over video

[Kadie]

Journalist Josh Wolf returns to prison
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, September 22, 2006


(09-22) 13:43 PDT DUBLIN -- Freelance journalist Josh Wolf returned to federal prison today after refusing to produce the outtakes of video footage he shot at a violent San Francisco protest in July 2005.

"Even though they're going to take me into custody, they can't silence me," Wolf, 24, said at a news conference outside the prison before turning himself in. "It's frightening. I don't feel I should have to return to prison. I don't think it was about me. I was probably the easiest target."

snip...
"It's just an unfortunate and unjust and illegal act for Josh to be jailed for not turning over his unedited tape," said one of Wolf's supporters, filmmaker Kevin Epps, 36, of San Francisco.

snip...
Wolf's return to prison came a day after a federal judge ordered two Chronicle reporters to prison for as long as a year and a half unless they reveal their sources of confidential grand jury testimony about star athletes' use of steroids. The reporters, however, can remain free while their appeal is heard.

snip...
In refusing to surrender his outtakes, Wolf claimed a journalist's right to withhold unpublished material as well as confidential sources. Those rights are protected by California's shield law, but that law does not apply in federal court.

The subpoena for Wolf's footage was issued by a grand jury investigating the alleged attempted burning of a San Francisco police car at an anarchist-led rally July 8, 2005. Prosecutors maintain the attempted burning was a federal crime because the Police Department receives money from Washington.

more...
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/22/BAGB6LAV0817.DTL

[angstlessk]

1. What is this I hear about Chavez imprisoning journalists? n/t