Journalists subjected to unconstitutional search warrants

The Guardian -   On Tuesday, a federal judge unsealed records showing that the Department of Justice tried and failed to get search warrants targeting journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, as well as three protesters involved in the Cities church demonstration in St Paul, Minnesota, last winter.

A court rejected the search warrants – twice. In strikingly blunt opinions, magistrate judge John Docherty said officials didn’t meet basic legal standards and chastised them for failing to mention a federal law that may have made some of the warrants illegal. The Department of Justice later withdrew the requests.

The justice department’s blatant disregard for the constitution and attempt to hide the law is disturbing, even if the department’s recent track record means it’s no longer shocking. With government attacks on freedom of speech increasing and the justice department’s independence declining, it’s more important than ever for judges to aggressively scrutinize government requests, for prosecutors to face real consequences when they abuse their power, and for Congress to pass strong laws protecting first amendment rights.

The search warrant records that were recently unsealed in the Cities church protest case show how the justice department is using the prosecution of protesters and journalists to directly threaten freedom of speech.