Rep. Working on Bill Protecting Journalists from Indictment

By
( )
published

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said he is working on legislation to protect reporters from prosecution.

That came in a tweet Tuesday (Jan. 21).

[embed]https://twitter.com/RepRoKhanna/status/1219692733322805248[/embed]

According to Khanna's office, the bill would amend the Espionage Act to prevent it from being used to indict journalists. It was prompted by the indictment of Wiki-leaker Julianne Assange, who was charged under the Espionage Act.

"The Trump administration charging Assange opened up a chilling effect on journalism," Khanna told CBS News.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.