The Raw Story | Reporter working on story critical of VA has his equipment confiscated

The Raw Story | Reporter working on story critical of VA has his equipment confiscated: "A public radio reporter visiting a VA hospital earlier this week to work on a story about veterans' healthcare was stopped by government officials mid-interview, ordered to leave the hospital and had some of his recording equipment confiscated.

David Schultz, a reporter with a local NPR affliate, WAMU 88.5, was at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Washington, DC on Tuesday night, covering a townhall meeting on the quality of minority healthcare. In the middle of an interview with one of the veterans at the meeting on the below quality healthcare he was receiving at the hospital, Schultz was told by hospital officials to halt the interview and to turn over his recording equipment."

DC radio station WTOP reports that Gloria Hairston, an internal communications specialist with the VA, was the one to order a stop to the interview.

Hairston was joined by two other VA employees and four armed guards, who stood between Schultz and the exit, in ordering the 26-year-old reporter to hand over his equipment, which included a recorder, microphone and headphones.

"She said I wouldn't be allowed to leave," Schultz told WTOP. "I became worried that I was going to get arrested.


So much for freedom of the press .....