Wolf struck a deal with prosecutors to post online the videotape that he had withheld from authorities.

Thomas Claburn, Editor at Large, Enterprise Mobility

April 3, 2007

1 Min Read

Jailed last August, 226 days ago, reporter Joshua Wolf was freed on Tuesday, ending the longest period of incarceration in the U.S. for refusing to turn information over to the government.

Wolf, 24, struck a deal with prosecutors to post online the videotape that he had withheld from authorities.

"During the course of this saga I have repeatedly offered to allow a judge to be the arbiter over whether or not my video material has any evidentiary value," Wolf explained on his blog. "Today, you the public have the opportunity to be the judge and I am confident you will see, as I do, that there is nothing of value in this unpublished footage."

The tape in question covers a San Francisco protest in July 2005 against the G-8 Summit being held in Scotland. Authorities wanted to view unreleased portions of the tape to assist an investigation into the burning of a police car and the injury of a police officer. They, along with everyone else online, can now do so.

A press conference is planned for 5 p.m. PST on Tuesday at San Francisco City Hall.

About the Author(s)

Thomas Claburn

Editor at Large, Enterprise Mobility

Thomas Claburn has been writing about business and technology since 1996, for publications such as New Architect, PC Computing, InformationWeek, Salon, Wired, and Ziff Davis Smart Business. Before that, he worked in film and television, having earned a not particularly useful master's degree in film production. He wrote the original treatment for 3DO's Killing Time, a short story that appeared in On Spec, and the screenplay for an independent film called The Hanged Man, which he would later direct. He's the author of a science fiction novel, Reflecting Fires, and a sadly neglected blog, Lot 49. His iPhone game, Blocfall, is available through the iTunes App Store. His wife is a talented jazz singer; he does not sing, which is for the best.

Never Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.

You May Also Like


More Insights