On Tuesday, he alarmed the defenders of freedom of the press by attacking a press conference and pointing out that a Los Angeles Times reporter was the subject of a criminal investigation. Later in the day, he tried to withdraw his disturbing comments, but it is important to understand the background, including Villanueva’s highly controversial behavior and his attacks on the media.
Villanueva has repeatedly pointed out LA Times reporter Alene Chekmedian, who simply does her job of covering his department. Chekmedyan published a series of stories about an incident in which a deputy knelt on a prisoner – including an article Monday about allegations that Villanueva was involved in undercover.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Villanueva showed and pointed to a photo of Chekmedian, plus one of his political rivals and the sheriff’s chief inspector. The arrows suggested a connection between the three. Villanueva cites a video of the incident, which Chekmedian received as “stolen property”. He said he was investigating “all parties” involved in the case. Asked repeatedly whether Chekmedian was specifically investigated, Villanueva said that “all parties to the act” are being investigated.
But after widespread condemnation and a warning from the newspaper’s chief adviser, Villanueva somehow backed down. “As a result of the incredible madness of the disinformation spread, I have to clarify at no time today that a LA Times reporter is suspected of a criminal investigation,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office tweeted Tuesday night. “We have no interest in prosecuting or prosecuting reporters.
It is remarkable that Villanueva seems to have placed a straw man here. There is a difference between being the subject of an investigation and being a suspect in an investigation where a person can be prosecuted. The first was reported by news organizations, not the second …
“Abuse of your official position”
Hours before the department’s tweet, LA Times chief adviser Jeff Glaser wrote a scathing note to the sheriff. Glaser described Villanueva’s remarks as “a subtly veiled intimidation attempt” to intimidate Chekmedian “into reporting obscene (but completely accurate) information about the behavior of people in your department and allegations of cover-up by you and other officials.”
Glaser said it was “an abuse of office that puts you and the county at risk.” He asked the department to “keep all documents related to any” investigation “of Ms. Chekmedian or any other LA Times employee on this issue.” You can read the whole letter here …
History of persecution of the press
This is far from the first time Villanueva has turned the press into a target, as LA Mag’s Ian Spiegelman wrote earlier this month. He has already objected to Chekmedian. The LA Times recalled an incident last year in which the sheriff’s department refused to talk to her. “The department offered to answer questions from ‘every other’ Times reporter,” the story said. The Times has refused to hire a new reporter for the story.
Widespread denunciation
>> LA Times executive editor Kevin Merida said that “Villanueva’s attempt to criminalize news reporting runs counter to a well-established constitutional law …”
>> Robert Garcia, the mayor of Long Beach City in Los Angeles County, said it was “a blatant attack on the free press and incredibly dangerous” and called on other elected officials to “condemn and oppose this behavior.” actions by the sheriff … “
>> The Committee of Reporters on Freedom of the Press described Villanueva’s move as “beyond the pale” and a violation of the First Amendment, condemning him with “the strictest words …”
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