we condemn the departments actions in the strongest terms, and incursion to immediately drop this purported investigation. joining us now is katie townsend, who s at the freedom of the press. thanks for being with us tonight, thank you. thanks for having me, rachel. so if she were to call the reporters committee s free legal hotline to ask for advice here, what advice would you give her in the circumstance? well, i think i would say, first off their s long-standing legal authority, including supreme court s landmark decision makes clear that a news organization can be held criminally liable for publishing information of public concern, it doesn t matter if the video issue that you played earlier, rachel, is confidential, it doesn t matter if it was leaked to the los angeles times. the constitution doesn t commit the criminal prosecution from receiving and publishing it.
making time to be with us tonight. thank you. thanks for having me, rachel. so, if she were to call the reporter s committees free legal hotline to ask for advice here, what advice would you give her in this circumstance? well, i think i would say first off there s long-standing legal authority, including a supreme court landmark decision that makes clear that journalists and news organizations can t be held criminally liable for publishing material about a matter of public concern. it doesn t matter whether the video at issue that you played earlier, rachel, is confidential. it doesn t matter if it was leaked to the los angeles times. the constitution doesn t permit a criminal prosecution for receiving and publishing it. the sheriff s department should know that and it shouldn t be threatening a criminal investigation as retaliation for that constitutionally protected activity. threatening and retaliation are the key words there.
appalling. this blatantly retaliatory comeback aimed at the reporter is beyond the pale, and violates the first amendment. publishing newsworthy information about an alleged law enforcement cover-up, that sought to block an investigation the use of excessive force, is constantly constitutionally protected activity, it s clearly in the public interest. we condemn the departments actions in the strongest terms, and incursion to immediately drop this purported investigation. joining us now is katie townsend, who s at the freedom of the press. thanks for being with us tonight, thank you. thanks for having me, rachel. so if she were to call the reporters committee s free legal hotline to ask for advice here, what advice would you give her in the circumstance? well, i think i would say, first off their s long-standing legal authority, including supreme court s landmark