From The Banner · Brenda Wintrode · · 1m 20s
UMD reporter Cat Murphy records Rep. Andy Harris
UMD student journalist Cat Murphy kept recording Rep. Andy Harris despite threats to have police remove her.
In brief
UMD student journalist Cat Murphy kept recording Rep. Andy Harris despite threats to have police remove her. UMD student journalist Cat Murphy refused to stop recording Rep. Andy Harris after he threatened to have police remove her. Originally reported by The Banner.
Cat Murphy records Rep. Andy Harris
Cat Murphy, a 22-year-old UMD journalism graduate student, recorded Rep. Andy Harris during a League of Women Voters forum in Cambridge on Tuesday.
“it has been a lot, but i was focused on doing my job and asking my questions that i wanted answers to”
Harris threatens to eject Murphy
Harris demanded Murphy stop recording the press conference, claiming Maryland’s wiretap law allowed him to deny her recording rights.
“he demanded she stop recording the briefing and wrongly said maryland’s wiretap law gave him the right to singularly deny her the ability to record him”
Murphy refuses to stop recording
Murphy refused Harris’ order to stop recording, kept recording, and he threatened to refer her to a prosecutor and have police remove her.
“he threatened to refer her to a prosecutor, asked his security to take her phone away and told them to get police to escort her out”
Harris’ behavior criticized
The Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association said Harris’ interpretation of Maryland’s two-party consent rule is wrong.
“harris has been in that position many times before, with journalists recording him as they report his comments”
Raskin condemns Harris
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin said Harris follows Donald Trump’s pattern of trying to censor the press during public interactions.
“when you’re speaking to the press publicly, you don’t get to pick and choose who is recording you”
Harris’ political context
Harris, chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is seeking a ninth term in Maryland’s 1st District, a Republican stronghold.
“first elected in 2010, harris is seeking a ninth term amid a troubling republican outlook and trump’s low approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections”
Murphy’s response
Murphy said she has no intention of stopping covering Harris or leaving journalism after the incident.
“i have no intention of stopping covering him or not going into journalism”
The bottom line
UMD student journalist Cat Murphy refused to stop recording Rep. Andy Harris after he threatened to have police remove her.
