Why is Josh in Jail?

## Josh Wolf: Jailed Journalist Published on Tuesday, November 21st, 2006 at 5:43 pm ### Why is Josh in Jail? Josh Wolf, freelance journalist and independent videographer, is currently in “coercive custody” at the Federal Detention Facility in Dublin, California. He is not charged with any crime and is being held under civil contempt. Wolf was incarcerated earlier this year after resisting a subpoena to testify before a Federal Grand jury and for refusing to turn over his source material for video he shot of a San Francisco protest against the G8 Summit in 2005. His incarceration is virtually unprecedented, and it is widely believed he will likely become the longest imprisoned journalist in U.S. history. Having covered protests for several years as part of the San Francisco press corps, Wolf has gained exclusive access to much of the Bay Area’s activist community. Access denied to other journalists. Throughout Wolf's ordeal, he has expressed concerns that this case is an attempt by federal prosecutors to identify political dissidents and his attorneys have argued that the grand jury investigation is a fishing expedition. Wolf has repeatedly stated under oath that his unpublished material does not contain footage of any of the alleged crimes committed. In a show of good faith, Wolf has offered to let the judge review his tape. The Honorable Judge William Alsop refused. Wolf, 24, is the recipient of the 2006 Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Award as Journalist of the Year. Advocates from Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalistm, and numerous others have all spoken out in his defense. ### What Others Have Said About this Case "When journalists like Josh Wolf are put in jail, journalism and the public's right to know suffer. An independent press needs a Federal shield law to protect journalists like Josh." -*-Judith Miller, Journalist* “He [Wolf] may not have the clout or journalism credentials of some of the other government targets, but Josh Wolf is no less entitled to First Amendment protection. Each day he remains incarcerated represents another small dent in this nation's basic freedoms.” *–San Francisco Chronicle Editorial 8/06* "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. 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." *–Reporters Without Borders* “Jailing a journalist for his work is alarming, especially so when it is done by a democratic country.” *–Joel Simon, Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists* “At a time when journalists are under increasing pressure to comply with government subpoenas- and in the absence of a federal shield law – these three have chosen to risk jail rather than reveal confidential sources or turn over to government unpublished portions of their work. The Chronicle reporters have refused to name the source of the grand jury testimony that informed their articles on steroid use among athletes. Wolf, who already has spent time in jail, has refused to turn over unpublished footage of an anarchist demonstration in San Francisco. While their case are dissimilar, the underlying principles are not.” *–Society for Professional Journalists* "The weak connection made by the Federal government to conjure up jurisdiction in this matter should strongly suggest that Mr. Finigan and this grand jury are not concerned with legitimate law enforcement and are more likely interested in attacking freedom of the press and activists. If the allegations that someone tried to set a San Francisco police vehicle on fire had any merit, there would be a local investigation into the matter." *–Carlos Villarreal, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild San Francisco Bay Area* "[Wolf’s imprisonment] is a direct assault on the integrity of our free press by an overly aggressive administration, and I am deeply concerned that these actions could have a dramatic and chilling effect on our country's journalistic integrity. We must stand against the circumvention of our constitutional rights, and support those brave individuals who defend our right to a press that is free from government obstruction." *–Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)* ### The Published Video Click [here](http://web.archive.org/web/20070128020126/http://www.archive.org/download/JoshWolfAllEmpiresMustFall/AllEmpiresMustFall.mov) to watch the published version of the video featured on Josh’s vlog shortly after the protest and subsequently aired by local television networks. The Grand Jury is demanding the raw footage from which this video is compiled. ####