“In many states, taping a public official is illegal.”
Not any more. The pendulum is swinging in the other direction. The Supreme Court said their is a First Amendment right to tape public officials doing their public duties.
High court: Ill. can’t enforce law barring taping of police
http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/high-court-ill-cant-enforce-law-barring-taping-of-police
their should be there