Feds confiscate investigative reporter’s confidential files during raid

Link

Tapping phones...data collection...and stealing documents from reporters?

A warrant was issued to find 'firearms' and confidential files were taken. Now the reporter feels that those sources may be in danger.

A veteran Washington D.C. investigative journalist says the Department of Homeland Security confiscated a stack of her confidential files during a raid of her home in August — leading her to fear that a number of her sources inside the federal government have now been exposed.

In an interview with The Daily Caller, journalist Audrey Hudson revealed that the Department of Homeland Security and Maryland State Police were involved in a predawn raid of her Shady Side, Md. home on Aug. 6. Hudson is a former Washington Times reporter and current freelance reporter.

A search warrant obtained by TheDC indicates that the August raid allowed law enforcement to search for firearms inside her home. Firearms her 'husband' was not supposed to have from an arrest in 86.

This to me is an outrage that not only did they take this information but they did it under a pretense of looking for firearms.

At about 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, Hudson said officers dressed in full body armor presented a search warrant to enter the home she shares on the bay with her husband. She estimates that at least seven officers took part in the raid.

After the search began, Hudson said she was asked by an investigator with the Coast Guard Investigative Service if she was the same Audrey Hudson who had written a series of critical stories about air marshals for The Washington Times over the last decade. The Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security.

if you are not part of the state run media comrad...

I'd love to see what the search warrant said and why they needed to take her papers

They are determined to undermine the ability of a Free Press to operate to such a degree, free press becomes a joke for how free they are to record what they are told by official sources.

This is pathetic. If I were in a sensitive position, I wouldn't say hello to anyone where their notes could reasonably be expected to be seized for any reason. Period. That would be plenty to shut up or find another way.

When it's enough burned sources...someone in that position will just learn to bite their tongue and say nothing.

We celebrate Assange and what he did as a self declared/self made investigative journalist...yet we watch and openly tolerate credentialed journalists being run clear into the position of paid teleprompter readers or copy writers without an original item to add. Something is really wrong here ...and as usual, it starts in Washington.

Both the First and Fourth Amendments get a screwing in that raid.... possibly the Second also.

Standard fare from today's federal government.

When I read this it was so obvious they were not looking for illegal firearms. It was just the ticket into her home. DHS will do anything to keep their incompetence and illegal actions from public scrutiny. Anything.

Well if they didn't 'overreach' with Michael Hastings they're certainly not going to let this little freelancer stop them.

You angry? Tough...

reply to post by matafuchs


We have no privacy in this country nor have we had it in quite some time.

The only thing being shattered now is the illusion of same. And it seems they are hell-bent on making sure everyone knows it now too.

It's probably a good time to stay alert. Methinks something wicked this way comes...

Remember, recently there are two things that have occurred that can allow this happen on a mass scale.

1. Declaring who is and who is not a journalist and who can protect sources. This would mean if the government can say you are NOT a journalist and take what you have as 'state secret' or info not deemed worthy of the public.

2. PPACA allows the HHS to access your home at anytime they feel it is not a 'safe environment'. I know that there are many who will show up and it is not true but it is. Smoking around children(which is offensive) can get a visit from the HHS as well as simply being a former soldier who would, in most cases have...GUNS!

It is all about the guns and suppressing free speech right now. Making a list and checking it twice.

Our country has moved from 'no way it could happen' to the POTUS stating ' do not listen to the ones who talk of conspiracy' (and yes I know GW did it too but that was about 9/11 theory not the destruction of our country) . We have someone who was raised by and surrounded himself by people who hate America. Hate. Not want to simply change but destroy and hate..and they are slowly doing it. Now we have a lame duck president situation that may get very very hairy very very quickly.

"At about 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, Hudson said officers dressed in full body armor presented a search warrant to enter the home...."

Many years ago, when I was in public school, they used to tell us the difference between us and the commies was that Americans did not have to fear a 'midnight knock on the door.'  That is certainly no longer true.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I don't think anyone is openly tolerating this kind of action. Hence the OP.

This is an assault upon the fifth estate. It is reprehensible.

Who is going to stop it??

Michael Hastings was murdered.

This is a shout out to all investigative reporters.

Sickening.

Not that the Washington Times is a bastion of truthfulness. The implications are the same.