Warning against attempts by the government to intimidate journalists whose reporting portrays the government in a negative light or encourages citizens to challenge government injustice and wrongdoing, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have weighed in on the government’s arrest and ongoing prosecution of radio shock jock Pete Santilli. Santilli, a new media journalist who broadcasts his news reports over YouTube and streaming internet radio, was arrested and has been charged along with seven other individuals connected to the recent occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns, Oregon. Santilli is the only journalist among those who have been charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers from discharging their duties by use of force, intimidation, or threats. In advising the public defender about the First Amendment principles at play in Santilli’s case, Rutherford Institute attorneys took issue with the government’s case against Santilli as laid out in its Criminal Complaint, which makes clear that Santilli is being charged solely as a reporter of information and not as an accomplice to any criminal activity.
The Rutherford Institute’s memorandum on the First Amendment rights of journalists and the government’s complaint regarding Santilli are available at www.rutherford.org.
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So how will the mavens of misinformation in the 4th estate react to this, I wonder? Even the dimmest bulb in the chandelier has to realize that Santilli is a member of their little club, even if he is an unwelcome one. Even Pravda has to watch what they print these days...
ReplyDeleteI was absolutely appalled that they arrested him. Ridiculous. We are most definitely in a police state.
DeleteI have my own opinions on Mr. Santilli. They are along the lines that he is in the same line of work as Hal Turner. But, I'll keep that to myself, as they are only opinions based on nothing more than gut feeling.
ReplyDeleteYes, we never know.
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