LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva accused the reporter of "criminal intent" over the article.
A defiant Sheriff Alex Villanueva used a news conference to blast a variety of his opponents both political and perceived,
including election challenger Eli Vera,
county Inspector General Max Huntsman
and Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian,
who broke an explosive story of an altercation involving the handcuffed inmate. Villanueva alleged today that the piece was potentially based on information stolen from the department. He listed six potential crimes involved, including burglary, theft and conspiracy.
He augmented the presentation with a blown-up photo of the journalist, much as law enforcement officials are wont to do with suspects when explaining a case.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff announced an investigation into a Los Angeles Times reporter after she wrote a story on the department's alleged cover-up of a video documenting the use of force against a handcuffed inmate.
In late March, LA Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian wrote about the video in which a deputy was seen kneeling on an inmate's head for three minutes after he punched the deputy in the face, also citing internal records.
The incident occurred in March 2021, and Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is seeking reelection for a second term, maintained that he was unaware of it until October.
The investigation by Villanueva is looking at the manner in which the video was obtained by Tchekmedyian; the county sheriff claims the video was "stolen property."
During a press conference Tuesday,April 26th, Villanueva said the investigation will look into charges of conspiracy, burglary, and unauthorized use of a database against Tchekmedyian, retired LASD Commander Eli Vera, and sheriff's Inspector General Max Huntsman.
Kevin Merida, executive editor of the LA Times, said in a statement that Villanueva's "attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law."
The LA Times responded to the announcement of the investigation by sending a letter to the sheriff in protest, citing legal decisions that protect Tchekmedyian and her reporting.
"This outrageous assertion appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate Ms. Tchekmedyian for reporting unflattering (but entirely accurate) information about the conduct of individuals in your department and allegations of a cover-up by you and other officials," the outlet's general counsel Jeff Glasser wrote in the letter.
David Loy, legal director at the nonprofit First Amendment Coalition, told the LA Times that the department's alleged cover-up as reported by Tchekmedyian was a "subject of public concern that the press has an absolute right if not a duty to report on."
"I'm flabbergasted at some level, because what the sheriff is doing reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of basic 1st Amendment law," Loy said. "This has been settled for decades."
The Los Angeles County Sheriff announced an investigation into a Los Angeles Times reporter after she wrote a story on the department's alleged cover-up of a video documenting the use of force against a handcuffed inmate.
In late March, LA Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian wrote about the video in which a deputy was seen kneeling on an inmate's head for three minutes after he punched the deputy in the face, also citing internal records.
The incident occurred in March 2021, and Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is seeking reelection for a second term, maintained that he was unaware of it until October.
The investigation by Villanueva is looking at the manner in which the video was obtained by Tchekmedyian; the county sheriff claims the video was "stolen property."
During a press conference Tuesday,April 26th, Villanueva said the investigation will look into charges of conspiracy, burglary, and unauthorized use of a database against Tchekmedyian, retired LASD Commander Eli Vera, and sheriff's Inspector General Max Huntsman.
Kevin Merida, executive editor of the LA Times, said in a statement that Villanueva's "attempt to criminalize news reporting goes against well-established constitutional law."
The LA Times responded to the announcement of the investigation by sending a letter to the sheriff in protest, citing legal decisions that protect Tchekmedyian and her reporting.
"This outrageous assertion appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate Ms. Tchekmedyian for reporting unflattering (but entirely accurate) information about the conduct of individuals in your department and allegations of a cover-up by you and other officials," the outlet's general counsel Jeff Glasser wrote in the letter.
David Loy, legal director at the nonprofit First Amendment Coalition, told the LA Times that the department's alleged cover-up as reported by Tchekmedyian was a "subject of public concern that the press has an absolute right if not a duty to report on."
"I'm flabbergasted at some level, because what the sheriff is doing reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of basic 1st Amendment law," Loy said. "This has been settled for decades."
How has this retard not been fired by the county, the mayor, and the governor? How has the Pres of the USA not made a statement to this effect about the sheriff of the largest police department in the USA, especially in light of the murder of George Floyd by police, by kneeling on his head.
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