FindLaw |

Legal News & Information

Blunt, Conyers, Pence, Boucher Urge Senate to Take Up Media Shield Bill

WASHINGTON, Apr. 17 /PRNewswire/ --

Congressmen Cite Dire Situation of USA Today Reporter

WASHINGTON, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Citing the recent and troubling news of a USA Today reporter being held in contempt of court for refusing to publicly name her source, Congressmen Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Mike Pence (R-Ind.), and Rick Boucher (D-Va.) urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to quickly take up legislation already passed in the House to protect the media's rights to confidentiality.

In a letter sent today, the Congressmen wrote:

"Our bill would provide a federal shield law to better protect the free press that our founders knew would be needed to create our vibrant country. This measure has been long in coming, but should be completed before the next reporter faces the same untenable choices as [USA Today reporter Toni] Locy. Congress should move swiftly to put this bill on the President's desk before the Memorial Day Recess."

The Free Flow of Information Act, the media shield bill authored by Boucher and Pence, overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives on October 16, 2007, by a vote of 398-21.

The following is the full text of the letter the congressmen sent to Senators Reid and McConnell:

April 16, 2008

The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader

United States Senate

528 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader

United States Senate

361-A Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell:

It is with deep concern that we write to urge you to swiftly take up our bill, H.R. 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 that passed the House of Representatives on October 16, 2007, by a vote of 398-21.

The recent case regarding former USATODAY reporter Toni Locy has highlighted the urgency of these protections. Locy was recently held in contempt of court for refusing to reveal her law enforcement sources in a civil case - not a criminal case, but a civil monetary damages case - for articles she wrote about the 2001 anthrax attacks, even after she revealed the names of two sources upon receiving approval from them to do so. The court's contempt citation is disturbing enough, but the order is actually punitive in nature. The court imposed escalating fines upon Locy, and took the extraordinary action of ordering that she cannot receive financial assistance from anyone to pay any accrued fines. Fortunately, the appellate court has stayed this unwise order, but this case served to drive home the real legal peril that many in the press face on a daily basis.

Our bill would provide a federal shield law to better protect the free press that our founders knew would be needed to create our vibrant country. This measure has been long in coming, but should be completed before the next reporter faces the same untenable choices as Locy. Congress should move swiftly to put this bill on the President's desk before the Memorial Day Recess.

Sincerely,

Roy Blunt

Member of Congress

John Conyers

Member of Congress

Mike Pence

Member of Congress

Rick Boucher

Member of Congress