Media Manipulation: L.A. County Sheriff Baca Faces Federal Lawsuit

Freedom Of The Press At Issue

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Full Disclosure Network® is seeking a Federal Court Order to declare as unlawful the actions of L.A. County Sheriff Leroy Baca and the County Sheriff's Department. The lawsuit claims the Sheriff is denying freedom of the press and free speech rights by refusing Full Disclosure's access to an inmate interview with judicial critic Richard I Fine who is being held in L.A. County Central Men's jail for contempt of court since March 4, 2009.

JUDICIAL WATCH

A complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California by Sterling Norris, of the Judicial Watch public interest organization on Wednesday, January 27, 2009. Dutton vs. Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca  (CV10 0595) includes a demand for jury trial. Read the case here: http://tiny.cc/Complaint

REQUESTS DENIED

According to the complaint, Emmy Award winning producer/host Leslie Dutton of the Full Disclosure Network submitted numerous requests to the L.A. County Sheriff's Headquarters to arrange an on-camera interview with inmate Richard I. Fine, as part the on-going cable television series entitled "Judicial Benefits & Court Corruption".  http://tiny.cc/Series844

SHERIFF FAVORS COMPLIANT MEDIA?

The complaint reveals that the Sheriff's Department and Sheriff Baca did allow L.A. Times reporter Victoria Kim to interview Mr. Fine at the jail on May 22, 2009, which resulted in an article published in the Los Angeles Times on June 7, 2009. Additionally, ABC's Nightline producer Terri Whitcraft was allowed to bring cameras for videotaping an inmate interview with another inmate (other than Mr. Fine) located in the L.A. Central Men's jail in September 2009.

MEDIA RESTRICTED

It is claimed that the refusal of Defendants L.A. County Sheriff's Department and Baca to allow Dutton to interview Mr. Fine at the L.A. Central Men's jail "is harming the ability of Dutton (Full Disclosure) to obtain and disseminate information to the public about Mr. Fine's various legal claims, his continuing indefinite confinement; his physical condition, and the conditions of his confinement."

 LINKS & VIDEOS:

What is the Full Disclosure Network?    http://tiny.cc/Backgrounder406

"Judicial Benefits & Court Corruption" (6 min)  http://tiny.cc/preview687    

Sheriff Denies Full Disclosure Access (4 Min)  http://tiny.cc/DeniedAccess

Subscribe to RSS Feed On This page:   http://tiny.cc/RSSFeed

Contact: Leslie Dutton of Full Disclosure Network, +1-310-822-4449, or [email protected]

SOURCE Full Disclosure Network