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Rep. Andy Harris threatens prosecution of student reporter for trying to record him after debate
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., threatened to prosecute a University of Maryland student reporter for recording him without permission, citing Maryland’s two-party consent law, during a post-debate interview.
- Legal experts noted that Maryland’s wiretapping law does not apply in public settings where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a public press gaggle.
- Harris was confronted with questions about the Iran war and rising diesel prices during the debate and afterward, but he refused to answer and asked for law enforcement intervention over the recording.
- The incident ended with Harris accusing the student reporter of disrupting the opportunity for answers, while his Democratic opponent criticized him for being out of touch and avoiding substantive discussion.
- Harris’ office has not responded to requests for comment following the incident.
