Posted on 10/02/2014 7:19:50 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
An investigative reporter whose private files were illegally seized during a raid on her home will receive $50,000 as part of a settlement with the Department of Homeland Security.
Audrey Hudson, an award-winning journalist most recently at the Washington Times, told The Daily Signal she was awoken by her barking dog around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2013, to discover armed government agents had descended on her property under the cover of darkness. The agents had a search warrant for her husband’s firearms. As they scoured the home, Hudson was read her Miranda rights.
While inside Hudson’s house, a U.S. Coast Guard agent confiscated documents that contained “confidential notes, draft articles, and other newsgathering materials” that Hudson never intended for anyone else to see. The documents included the identities of whistleblowers at the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is part of Homeland Security.
At the time, Hudson was investigating and reporting on Homeland Security, specifically its Federal Air Marshal Service and the Transportation Security Administration.
It wasn’t until weeks later that Hudson discovered the documents were missing—and even then only because a federal law-enforcement official told her she could pick up the files. Hudson notified the Washington Times, which took the government to court for violating the Privacy Protection Act.
This led to the settlement, which was first revealed by the Washington Times this week.
“The important thing about this settlement is that we did not let the government’s invasion of my privacy stand,” Hudson said. “We defended the rights of journalists to protect their sources from discovery by government security agencies, and that’s a victory for all journalists.”
The settlement required Homeland Security to pay $50,000 to Hudson, return the seized documents, promise that no copies had been made and any notes about them would be destroyed. In addition, it provides $25,000 to the Washington Times for attorney’s fees and requires the Coast Guard Investigative Service to initiate a review of and provide training on the federal Privacy Protection Act.
Hudson’s attorney, Mark Grannis of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, hailed the settlement as a victory for press freedom.
“The government has bent over backwards to assure us that the seizure of Ms. Hudson’s notes was just an error of judgment, not part of any organized effort to identify her sources,” Grannis said. “We hope that by bringing this claim we have helped to raise awareness within the government that reporters’ notes are legally protected from seizure in all but the most exceptional cases.”
Coast guard? Really?
Pocket change
Yeah I bet they didn’t say anything to the whistle blowers.
If they had a warrant for firearms that’s all they can take.
She also gets free six-month motor boat lessons
There ought to be more repercussions than this — if the warrant specified guns to seize, then papers would be excluded. Error in judgment my foot. Someone did something blatantly illegal.
Something doesn’t seem right. The warrant was for her husband’s firearms...for what? Were they automatic and he did not pay the tax? Were they illegal in the area they lived? Why would a Coast Guard Investigative Service (I assume) Agent be serving a warrant for her husband’s guns? What does that have to do with the Coast Guard? The papers that were taken had to do with Homeland Security...seems like that’s what they were after but why CGIS?
Why was not the seizure of the guns contested? Is that considered just how it is now?
Welcome to the U.S.S.A. Socialist Jackboot police state.
“Pocket change”
Well, it’s a good thing it is pocket change, as you know the gov’ isn’t paying her settlement. It’s you and I.
Fifty thousand bucks? That’s chump change. She could have nailed them for at least ten mil. And if she hadn’t been a respected journalist with some influence, they’d have gunned her down and covered it up. With the help of the media that she is part of. And her doggie, too.
Well it’s like nobody is responsible for a budget anyhow. What was the last bump up of the debt ceiling? Eleventeen jillion zillion?
DHS didn’t pay ... THE U.S. TAXPAYERS got shafted...again.
Did she get all her docs back?
I hope she had backups in a secure location prior to this raid!
For reference:
“.... While inside Hudson’s house,a U.S. Coast Guard agent confiscated documents that contained “confidential notes,draft articles,and other newsgathering materials” that Hudson never intended for anyone else to see. The documents included the identities of whistleblowers at the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is part of Homeland Security. .....”
The Coastguardsman was a thief. Period. He should have been prosecuted.
Obama’s henchmen went after this reporter and her sources. I wonder if her sources are all safe and sound now.
This reminds me of Watergate for some reason.
Those with the guns take what they want.
Paper don’t mean squat.
Once the docs are in their hands, the docs can be disappeared .....
Unless the investigative reporter made backups....
That point (backups) is what is NOT being said (!)
Isn’t that kinda basic police stuff?
But I’m sure this 50k will keep it from happening again. /s
That is why I hope she had backups in safe places!!!!
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