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<h1><b>Statement of Josh Wolf, Journalist, on his Freedom from
Jail</b></h1><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/node/5922" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prwatch.org/node/5922<br><br>
</a>Submitted by John Stauber on Tue, 04/03/2007 - 15:48.<br>
Topics: <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/taxonomy/term/141">Defend the
Press</a> |
<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/taxonomy/term/111">journalism</a>
<br><br>
<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Josh_Wolf">Josh
Wolf</a>, the video blogger and journalist, is going to be freed. Wolf
was jailed on August 1, 2006 when he refused to testify or turn over
unpublished video out-takes to a federal grand jury investigating a July,
2005 anti-capitalist demonstration. The statement below was provided on
Josh's behalf to the Center for Media and Democracy by Lisa Cohen. For
more information contact Lisa Cohen at: lisa.cohen32 AT
verizon.net<br><br>
Statement from Josh Wolf:<br><br>
"It took 226 days, but it was worth every second to get what I
wanted from day one, which is that I will not have to testify before the
grand jury about the events at the protest or the identities of
participants. The demand for my testimony before the grand jury was the
true assault on my code of ethics and, as I have stated previously, there
will be, and has been no compromise to this resolute principle.<br><br>
"Today, I posted the video footage to my web site
<a href="http://www.joshwolf.net/">www.joshwolf.net/</a> so that the
public will have the opportunity to see that there is nothing of value in
this unpublished footage. As there is no sensitive material on the tape,
there was no reason to remain in prison, given the fact that I got what I
wanted from day one - the right to protect journalists from having to
testify before a grand jury.<br><br>
"Until now, I had no assurances that publishing the video would lead
to my release and furthermore had every indication that it would have the
opposite result and indicate to the judge that the so-called coercive
effect was working. That has changed.<br><br>
"I do feel that my unpublished materials should be protected by a
Federal Shield and moving forward, that is where I will focus my efforts.
Journalist should have the right to be protected from testifying before a
grand jury and I will not stop fighting until there is a law that
protects us."<br><br>
STATEMENT FROM DAVID GREENE, attorney:<br><br>
Today, Josh got what he wanted from day one -- he will not have to
testify before the grand jury about the events at the protest or the
identities of participants.<br><br>
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(415) 863-9977<br>
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