“The Journalist Protection Act”
/
Let's hope that this is one bill that makes it to The Hill ASAP.
Decrying what he called “a toxic atmosphere” created by President Trump’s administration, a Democratic congressman from California today introduced “The Journalist Protection Act.”
The proposal would make it a federal crime to assault a journalist in the process of gathering news.
The people that would be protected by the bill, would be traditional print and broadcast reporters, free-lancers and bloggers. So long as a person is newsgathering – collecting news and information with an eye toward sharing it with the public, the act would apply.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said in a release that Trump’s labeling the press “a stain on America” and “an enemy of the American people” has encouraged people to find violence against journalists more acceptable.
The Protection Act, co-sponsored by 12 members of the House of Representatives, all Democrats, would provide a penalty of up to three years in prison causing “bodily injury” to a journalist. The criminal code definition of “bodily injury” includes a cut, abrasion or bruise, or the infliction of physical pain.
Causing “serious bodily injury” to a journalist could get someone up to six years in prison.
“Not all attacks on journalists this year have been committed by Trump supporters, but the fact remains that rhetoric emanating from the world’s most powerful office is stoking an environment in which these attacks proliferate,” Swalwell said. “We must send a loud, clear message that such violence won’t be tolerated.”
“Online harassment of journalists has included death threats and threats of sexual and other physical violence. Taken together, it is clear that not only is the role of the news media in our democracy under attack, but the safety of individual journalists is threatened. It's time to reverse course. Physical violence and intimidation should never get in the way of covering police, protesters, presidents and other public matters.”
Swalwell supporters cited at least 44 attacks on journalists last year.
H/T Forbes
