Democracy Now reporter to return to state to face charges

A journalist facing criminal charges after reporting on a clash between private security and protesters at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest will return to North Dakota within the next week to face the accusations, said Tom Dickson, the Bismarck-based attorney representing Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now.

Dickson said he's planning to use First Amendment considerations to defend her against the misdemeanor criminal trespass charge.

"There's many justifications and legal justifications for why you're on somebody's property," Dickson said. "She wasn't picnicking or on a summer lark. She was reporting the news to the American people."

But the prosecutor said she does not deserve special treatment, because he doesn't consider her to be a journalist.

Read more: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/democracy-now-reporter-to-return-to-state-to-face-charges/article_644cb3c1-ae67-552a-bed8-9c6e171f3565.html