A Wall Street Journal reporter was handcuffed and carted away today after repeatedly ignoring a U.S. marshal’s request to leave Sam Adam Sr. alone as the veteran attorney tried to exit the federal courthouse.
July 21, 2010
By Stacie St. Clair
Doug Belkin was outside the boundaries dedicated for media interviews during Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial. Adam is one of the former governor’s attorneys.
Belkin was told three times to quit questioning Adam as the lawyer headed toward the door. After the reporter tersely brushed off the marshal, the agent called for back up and had the reporter taken into custody.
Belkin, 42, received a misdemeanor citation Wednesday for failure to comply with signs and directions, and touching a U.S. Marshal. He was released from custody late Wednesday. A hearing date has not been set.
Wall Street Journal spokeswoman Ashley Huston told the Associated Press that the paper will fight the charges.
Since the trial began, reporters have frequently walked along side Blagojevich’s defense attorneys as they exited the building to ask follow-up questions or get points of clarification. But as media interest increased in the past few days, the marshals have become more strict about enforcing the rules.