Corrupt Sheriff Threatens Journalist For Doing Her Job

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has launched an investigation into Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian for publishing an article about Villanueva allegedly covering up a case of inmate abuse. In the article, Tchekmedyian implicated Villanueva as leading the cover-up effort and published security footage of the incident obtained from a whistleblower. Ana Kasparian discusses on The Young Turks.

“The Los Angeles County sheriff said on Tuesday that he was investigating a reporter at The Los Angeles Times who had reported allegations that he was involved in covering up a case of inmate abuse, an announcement that drew accusations that he was violating the reporter’s First Amendment rights. The reporter, Alene Tchekmedyian, published an article on Monday detailing a legal claim filed by an officer who accused Sheriff Alex Villanueva of blocking an investigation into the alleged abuse and retaliating against whistle-blowers. Ms. Tchekmedyian also published security video footage of a police deputy handcuffing the inmate, who had punched him in the face. Once the inmate was on the floor, the officer kept his knee on the inmate’s head for three minutes.”