Dem lawmakers unveil Journalist Protection Act amid Trump attacks on media

Three Democratic lawmakers reintroduced a Journalist Protection Act that intends to designate "certain attacks on those reporting the news" as a federal crime.  

 

The bill was introduced by Rep. Eric SwalwellEric Michael SwalwellKey House chairman cautions against remote voting, suggests other options amid coronavirus outbreak House Democrats plead with key committee chairman to allow remote voting amid coronavirus pandemic Congress tiptoes toward remote voting MORE (D-Calif.), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

 

It was originally introduced by Swalwell in February 2018 when the House was under Republican control. Democrats officially took back the House this January. 

 

"The Journalist Protection Act makes it a federal crime to intentionally cause bodily injury to a journalist affecting interstate or foreign commerce in the course of reporting or in a manner designed to intimidate him or her from newsgathering for a media organization," reads the Tuesday press release. "It represents a clear statement that assaults against people engaged in reporting is unacceptable, and helps ensure law enforcement is able to punish those who interfere with newsgathering."

 

The lawmakers said they were introducing the bill as a response to President TrumpDonald John TrumpMilitary personnel to handle coronavirus patients at facilities in NYC, New Orleans and Dallas Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort has total of 20 patients: report Fauci says that all states should have stay-at-home orders MORE's "climate of extreme hostility" toward the media.

"Both before and since taking office, President Trump has blatantly stoked a climate of extreme hostility toward the press," the release said. "He has called the press 'the enemy of the American people,' and described mainstream media outlets as 'a stain on America.' 

"Such antagonistic rhetoric encourages others to think, regardless of their views, that violence against journalists is more acceptable." 

 

Trump has often referred to the media as "the enemy of the people" while regularly evoking the phase "fake news." 

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