5-24 NWR Ag-gag Reversal

5-24 NWR Ag-gag Reversal

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Last year Washington State Representative Joe Schmick had this to say regarding his states so-called ag-gag law. "I know there's a lot of people, a lot of discussion about this bill and I would really like to discuss it further, so bring me language. If there's areas of this bill that need to be strengthened or changed, I am more than willing to take a look at that and to consider that so we can move this bill ahead." Well it got moved ahead all right and now, there are attempts in Idaho to move it backwards. A federal judge has ordered the state of Idaho to pay $249,875.08 in legal fees to the coalition of nonprofit groups that sued the state claiming its "ag-gag" law criminalizes whistleblowing and violates freedom of speech.

And they Oregonian is reporting that the federal conspiracy charge pending against 25 defendants accused of impeding federal officers from doing their work at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is constitutionally vague and has the potential to "chill the most crucial First Amendment activity' – political dissent, defense lawyer Amy Baggio argued in federal court.

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