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Prosecutors try to send blogger Josh Wolf back to prison

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned a motion filed by US federal prosecutors on 14 September 2006 calling for the rescinding of a decision to release San Francisco-based video journalist and blogger Josh Wolf on bail pending the outcome of his appeal. If the motion is accepted, Wolf would return to prison until the appeal court issues a ruling on his case in November.

"We do not understand why prosecutors are hounding this journalist," the press freedom organisation said. "It is vital that the appeal court that decided to release Wolf should not go back on that decision. He already spent a month in prison just for resisting a subpoena and for protecting his material and sources. Sending him back to prison would be another press freedom violation."

Wolf's lawyer, Jose Luis Fuentes, accused prosecutors of using a roundabout means to make a national example out of him, filing a motion with judges who clearly opposed his release rather than with those who were in favour from the start. "This is purely and simply punitive," he told Reporters Without Borders. "He already spent a month in custody without giving in, so coercion did not work."

Wolf was released on bail on 31 August after spending a month in prison. He was sent there after being found in contempt of court for refusing to surrender the outtakes of the film of an anti-globalization protest that he posted on his blog. He appeared at an appeal court hearing on 7 September.

More details: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18731