Posted on 02/05/2018 6:17:06 PM PST by EdnaMode
Rep. Eric Swalwell told THR that a recent threat against CNN staffers showed his bill is needed. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents California's 15th Congressional District, wants legislators to do more than just use words to convey the importance of a free press. He's hoping the House of Representative will pass a bill he introduced on Monday, the Journalist Protection Act, which would make it a federal crime to harm a journalist in the field with the intent of impeding their work.
The safety and security of journalists has been top-of-mind throughout Donald Trump's presidency, and was ratcheted up in importance after a Michigan man was arrested and charged on Jan. 19 with threatening to kill CNN employees. (CNN president Jeff Zucker assured his employees that they were never at risk.)
Swalwell, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, said the bill was already in the works at the time of the arrest but that efforts were expedited. He said the threat against CNN "hastened the need" for his bill and validated the concern he and his co-sponsors have for members of the news media.
The bill announcement mentioned the president's decision to tweet, on July 2, a video that was edited to show him body-slamming and punching a person who had the CNN logo superimposed on them. Swalwell called the tweet "childish."
"It's the president of the United States, who has millions of followers and who is supposed to be the leader of our country doing it," he said. "I do fear that could embolden people themselves to take up violence against a journalist who they don't like."
But, Swalwell, who makes regular appearances across cable news, made clear that his bill is intended to protect journalists of all stripes. "I seek to protect the CNN journalist as much as I seek to protect the Fox News journalist," he said.
According to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, 44 journalists were attacked last year.
Bernie Lunzer, president of The NewsGuild-CWA, offered his support of the bill in a prepared statement. The bill, he said, should be embraced by "everyone who believes our democracy depends on a free and vibrant press."
Swalwell's bill stands little chance of passage in the Republican-controlled House, but he said he's hopeful it will attract bipartisan support.
I agree as long as its fair: make it a crime for journalists to attack citizens
I agree as long as its fair: make it a crime for journalists to attack citizens
Unless they’re from a conservative news source.
Who the f*@% does he think he’s kidding?
Shhhh, don't tell them that it might backfire on them.
Journalist? When was the last time you have ever saw or read a “journalist”? Those days are long gone
More so in Cali
It has to go every which way.
Press can’t take bought and paid for stories from seditionists.
Press can’t attack a sitting president or candidate.
Press cannot be state-controlled media under the wing of Democrat party.
Press cannot blare outright lies on Page 1 above the fold and then apologize for it with one sentence retraction a week later on the bottom of page 43 next to the obituaries.
Journalists are extremely rare and shouldn’t be harmed, but propagandists are everywhere and should be hunted for sport.
It’s already against the law to physically threaten someone.
Who is a “journalist”?
Because some Animals are more equal than others and their lives are more important than yours and mine.
“”””The bill, he said, should be embraced by “everyone who believes our democracy depends on a free and vibrant press.” “”””
Any elected Rep or journalist who thinks we have a democracy deserves a good ass kicking ( metaphorically speaking of course)
All retractions must be in double font above the 1st page fold!
Make it a professional sport, an Olympic event.
This guy is a joker, filth of a human being.
The First Amendment doesn't protect "journalism," it protects the People's right to a free press.
Anybody who "journals" on Free Republic is a journalist. The existence of Free Republic is protected by the First Amendment.
One journal attacking another journal was common in early days, especially in the campaign of 1800. See the Gazette of the United State, and the National Gazette. Here is more on the early partisan newspapers. Should those journalists have been protected from attack? Many of them were actually Founding Fathers who wrote under pseudonyms.
-PJ
People should be required to buy a license and there should be a bag limit.
Another protected class.
I am of the opinion that they have not thought this through. Assume a conservative journalist that goes to a college campus and wears a pro-life shirt to a “pink hats” rally. Anyone who attacks the journalist would now be charged with a federal crime????
I dont think that is what the left wants.
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