Governor Newsom weighed in on the recent raid conducted by the San Francisco Police Department of a journalist’s home earlier this month saying, “Journalists should be able to do their jobs.”
Early this month, officers searched the home and office of freelance journalist Bryan Carmody as part of an investigation into whether he was part of a criminal conspiracy to steal a confidential report on public defender Jeff Adachi’s death.
San Francisco Police Chief William Scott defended the raid and seizure of Carmody’s equipment and said it was part of a larger investigation into who leaked the report.
Officials also believe Carmody participated in criminal acts and that his motives went beyond his duties as a journalist,” the Associated Press reports.
The department said the raid was authorized by search warrants signed by two judges.
Governor Newsom condemned the raid and released a statement saying:
San Francisco prides itself as a place that defends civil liberties. Freedom of the press is an essential part of our democracy. Journalists should be able to do their jobs — including working with confidential sources — without becoming targets themselves.”
For live, local news, download the KRONon app. It lets you watch commercial-free the Bay Area’s Local News Station on multiple streaming devices.