Prosecutor: No time for evidence against arrested reporter
Associated PressDES MOINES, Iowa — A prosecutor who is pursuing charges against an Iowa newspaper reporter who was arrested while covering a protest in May told a judge Thursday that his office shouldn’t have to give body-camera footage and other evidence to the journalist’s lawyer because his office was too busy. Brad Kinkade, an assistant Polk County attorney, told Judge Christopher Kemp that because Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri had only been charged with misdemeanors, the case was considered a low-priority and wasn’t worth the time needed to provide evidence the defense has requested. “They’re supposed to be handled with no delay and little cost.” According to the Des Moines Register, Sahouri was covering a protest near a shopping mall on May 31, less than a week after George Floyd died in Minneapolis, sparking hundreds of demonstrations nationwide. “Even after she clearly established her status as a reporter who was on assignment, she was held in custody.” Sahouri and Robnett are represented by attorney Nick Klinefeldt, who is asking the judge to order prosecutors to provide police reports, body camera recordings and police policy and training information.
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