Journalism Group Protests Scalia grabbing/erasing tapes, censorship

Journalism Group Protests Scalia Tape Grab
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A deputy federal marshal violated the law and "the fundamental tenets of press freedom" when she ordered two reporters to erase recordings of a speech by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a journalists' advocacy group said Thursday.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press said in a letter that the marshal violated the Privacy Protection Act, which says government officers may not seize materials in the possession of people who plan to distribute them through public communication.

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The letter was addressed to Attorney General John Ashcroft, U.S. Marshals Service Director Benigno G. Reyna and Nehemiah Flowers, the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi.

During a speech Scalia gave on the Constitution in Hattiesburg on Wednesday, a woman who identified herself as Deputy Marshal Melanie Rube demanded that a reporter for The Associated Press erase a tape recording of the justice's comments.


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At a reception following Scalia's speech at William Carey, the justice told television reporters from Hattiesburg station WDAM-TV to leave. A member of his entourage also told newspaper photographers they could not take pictures, but a college official reversed the order after non-media guests started snapping photos.

to impeach Scalia when we take back the White House in November... and Deputy Marshal Rube's new job at Taco Bell is waiting for her facist ass...