D.C. Circuit Dismisses Contempt Order Against Reporter

U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton
© 2008 AP Images./Haraz N. Ghanbari




By Laura Brandon

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out a contempt order against a former USA Today reporter for refusing to provide her sources for her stories about the anthrax attacks in 2001, according to an article from the First Amendment Center.

A judge previously ordered reporter Toni Locy to pay $5,000 per day out of her own pocket as part of her contempt order. Those fines were thrown out along with the contempt order.

The contempt order resulted when Locy refused to identify her sources as part of Steven J. Hatfill’s lawsuit against the federal government.

Hatfill, a former Army scientist, was identified as a person of interest in the anthrax investigation but was later exonerated by the Justice Department. He sued the federal government for violating his privacy by talking to reporters.

U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, who presided over the civil case, ordered Locy to reveal who had given her information about Hatfill. But Locy said she could not remember who the specific sources were.

Judge Walton then ordered Locy to reveal all the sources related to her anthrax stories. When Locy refused, the judge charged her with contempt and ordered her to pay the fines.

The contempt order was thrown out after Hatfill settled his lawsuit with the Justice Department.