The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
June 7, 2012

Reporter Blocked from Questioning Honeywell Exec Files Suit 
------------------------------------------------------------


 
A reporter for the Chicago-based magazine In These Times has filed a
lawsuit after he was prevented from questioning the CEO of the
industrial giant Honeywell at an event on Capitol Hill. The reporter,
Mike Elk, began asking about a gas leak at a Honeywell plant in Illinois
when the microphone was seized from his hands.

Mike Elk: "On May 14, there was a seven-minute release of UF6 gas by an
unqualified engineer working on the unit where they were operating.
Sorry, I’m not done with my question. What I wanted to know, what I
happened to know, is that a good cost to release UF6 gas into the
atmosphere? Is that a good cost?"

Man: "Sir, if I can interrupt. This is to hear from entrepreneurs and
business folks..."

Mike Elk: "I’m a member of the press and I was invited here and I want
to ask the —"

Man: "Sir, sir —"

Mike Elk: "Excuse me sir, I’m a member of the press. I’ve never been
treated like that in Washington."

Elk's lawsuit accuses a Honeywell official, as well as a Congressional
staffer, of false imprisonment and assault after they allegedly held him
against his will. In a statement, Elk said: "The U.S. Capitol is a
public building open to reporters and private individuals should not be
allowed to impede on freedom of [the] press."

 

.