Spokeswoman: Journal Reporter Arrested for ‘Routine Newsgathering’

Zeke Turner — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:45:53 -0400

A spokeswoman for the Wall Street Journal updated us on the arrest of reporter Douglas Belkin this morning at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago, where he was covering the trial of Rod Blagojevich.

"Doug Belkin was wrongfully arrested and charged with petty offenses for nothing more than routine newsgathering," the spokesperson wrote in an email. "We stand behind our reporter, and will aggressively fight these unfounded charges."

Mr. Belkin was arrested for putting his hands on a security guard, who was asking him to step back from a subject he was interviewing.

Observer » Spokeswoman: Journal Reporter Arrested for ‘Routine Newsgathering’

Spokeswoman: Journal Reporter Arrested for ‘Routine Newsgathering’