That’s ok, remember McDermott of Washington State did it years ago and the case got dropped. Just find the right judge.
Well, maybe he should have said something, but I’d be tempted to tape any conversation with a reporter, just to keep him honest.
Did the reporters tape him?
I can’t summon up a lot of indignation about a politician taping a reporter. Oh look, it came to light because the reporter misquoted the guy. Imagine that, a reporter misquoting somebody.
"Recording" can include "taking notes" and if Brown's staff thought that the reporter was taking notes (and I assume that they were quite aware of it), then they had the right to tape record it without "permission" because permission is implied.
Frankly I think the law is an ass.