Free Josh Wolf Support Group

Contact: Mahdis Keshavarz 425 591 8781

ATTORNEYS FOR JAILED JOURNALIST FILE PAPERS IN 9TH CIRCUIT

 DEMANDING HIS RELEASE

Experts Fear Wolf May Become Longest-Jailed Journalist In America

October 10, 2006, New York, NY: Today, attorneys for jailed journalist Josh Wolf filed papers with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco calling the attempt to prosecute Wolf “a fishing expedition” and arguing for his release.

Wolf a freelance journalist and videographer, was subpoenaed by a Grand Jury convened in an ongoing investigation by the US Attorney’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force. Wolf’s role in that investigation is based on the belief that footage Wolf took at a G-8 Summit protest in July 2005, in San Francisco, could assist in their inquiry into an alleged attempt by protestors to set fire to a police vehicle, which suffered no damage except a broken tail light.

Wolf, whose work has appeared in the UC Santa Barbara Daily Nexus, the Santa Barbara Independent and the Haight Ashbury Beat, has repeatedly stated and signed a declaration under oath that there is nothing in his footage which relates to the police investigation and has refused to hand over his footage based on his journalistic principles.

Wolf was held in contempt of court by Judge Alsup on August 1, 2006. He subsequently served 31 days in prison at the Federal Penitentiary in Dublin, California. Wolf was released on bail on August 31st, only to be forced to return to jail on September 22nd, 2006. Experts have speculated that Wolf may well become the longest-jailed journalist in America.

“President Bush is using the Grand Jury to crack down on demonstrators protesting the Iraq War. Journalist Josh Wolf, in refusing to turn over his video identifying anti-Bush people at demonstrations, is now jailed.  His jailing violates the Constitution.  He should be released." said Martin Garbus, attorney for Josh Wolf.

Josh Wolf joins a number of other distinguished journalists who have been jailed for similarly refusing to comply with Grand Jury investigations based on their journalistic principles. Most recently, Judith Miller from the New York Times and Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada both of the San Francisco Chronicle. The difference between them and Josh is apparent. While the others were leaked information, Josh Wolf is simply a journalist and videographer documenting a protest, which was shown by many news stations.

In recognition of his courage in protecting the rights of journalists everywhere, he, along with Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada have been awarded the Journalist of the Year award by the Northern California chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists.

Numerous media outlets and organizations have spoken out in defense of Wolf. "The Wolf case has absolutely no bearing on national security, the argument used in other tussles between federal courts and journalists who refused to name their sources or surrender their files,” Lucie Morillon, Reporters Without Borders said. "Confirmed contempt of court orders against Wolf would mean that the independence of the press - which is based among other things on the right to professional secrecy – is more than ever in danger in the United States. Keeping Josh Wolf in jail would be tantamount to denying the role that the media is supposed to play in a democracy, one of questioning and criticizing. Congress must quickly debate and approve a federal shield law that would uphold the right of journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources."