GOP Handcuffs Filmmaker at Frack Hearing for 'Practicing Journalism'

"WASHINGTON -- In a stunning break with First Amendment policy, House Republicans directed Capitol Hill police to detain a highly regarded documentary crew that was attempting to film a Wednesday hearing on a controversial natural gas procurement practice. ...

Josh Fox, director of the Academy Award-nominated documentary 'Gasland' was taken into custody by Capitol Hill police this morning, along with his crew, after Republicans objected to their presence, according to Democratic sources present at the hearing. The meeting of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Environment had been taking place in room 2318 of the Rayburn building.

HuffPost has obtained exclusive video of the arrest of Josh Fox. Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee, can be heard at the end of the clip asking Republican Chairman Andy Harris (R-Md.) to halt the arrest and permit Fox to film the public hearing. Harris denies Miller's request as Fox is escorted out of the hearing in handcuffs."

Zach Carter reports for the Huffington Post February 1, 2012.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA Stands by 'Fracking' Study But Calls Reach Limited" (E2 Wire/The Hill)

"'GasLand' Filmmaker Arrested at House Hearing on 'Fracking'" (USA TODAY)

""Gasland" Director Responds To Arrest; Court Date Set" (Reuters)

"Documentarian Arrested At US Hearing" (Sky News Australia)

"'Gasland' Director Joshua Fox Arrested Filming House Panel" (Greenspace/Los Angeles Times)

"U.S. Filmmaker Arrested at House Hearing on Shale Gas" (Reuters)

"Panel Chaired by Harris Boots Filmmaker at Hearing" (Baltimore Sun)

"Congressman Harris Targets Fracking Report" (Delmarva Now)

"US House Hearing on  Gas Fracking Halted by Dispute Over Film Maker" (Platts)

"EPA Fracking Study Is ‘Politics Trumping Policy,’ Harris Says" (Bloomberg Businessweek)

"Lawmakers Fault EPA in Fracking Hearing Delayed by Arrest" (Bloomberg)

"EPA Official Defends Findings on  Fracking" (Houston Chronicle/Hearst)

"Filmmaker Stirs Up Fracking Foes, Overshadows GOP Hearing" (E&E News PM)

"‘Gasland’ Filmmaker Arrested at Capitol Hearing" (Green/NYT)

"HBO Crew Briefly Shuts Down Hill Hearing" (Washington Times/Unification Church)

"‘Gasland’ Director Josh Fox Arrested at House Hearing" (Reliable Source/Washington Post)

"Filmmaker Without Credentials Arrested at Hearing" (AP)

"'Gasland' Director in Handcuffs" (Slate)

Source: Huffington Post, 02/02/2012