LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva reportedly had his investigators targeting a Times journalist in a criminal leak probe for reporting on a departmental cover-up, but following multiple shouts of criticism from politicians, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Press freedom organizations, the paper tiger crumbled and retracted his announcement, then went on to deny that they considered the reporter a suspect.
The sheriff initially lashed out at LA Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian during a morning news conference in which he suggested two longtime foes leaked her a surveillance video showing a deputy kneeling on the head of a handcuffed inmate.
Sorry, Alex, there is a new sheriff in Washington DC, who respects Freedom of the Press. The right to report news or circulate opinion without censorship from the government is considered “one of the great bulwarks of liberty,” by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Americans enjoy the freedom of the press as one of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. New technologies, however, have created additional challenges to news media freedoms.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), is a police force serving Los Angeles County, California. It is the largest sheriff's department in the United States, and the third-largest local police agency with approximately 18,000 employees, 9,915 sworn deputies, and 9,244 unsworn members.
I thought you would be interested in this story I found on MSN: Sheriff Villanueva slams 'cover-up' report over leaked video – https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/video/sheriff-villanueva-slams-cover-up-…
Sheriff Alex Villanueva says the LASD has launched a criminal investigation into how the media obtained a use-of-force video that showed a deputy kneeling on a handcuffed inmate's head. The LA Times is calling it an attack on the First Amendment. https://youtu.be/nVC269RQGYE
SPJ supports the Greater Los Angeles Pro Chapter and a coalition of journalism associations, media unions, and First Amendment advocates protesting the LA Sheriff's Department's criminal investigation of a Los Angeles Times reporter who was doing her job. https://www.spjla.org/news/spjla-protests-sheriffs-criminal-leak-invest…