NewsNation Reporter Arrested at Ohio Governor’s Press Conference
On Wednesday evening, a television reporter for NewsNation was arrested in front of cameras during a news conference held by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to address a disastrous train derailment near the Pennsylvania border.[0] The incident was sparked by a freight train derailment that occurred Friday night and left 10 of the 50 cars carrying hazardous materials.[1]
At the East Palestine Elementary School Gymnasium, DeWine was about to begin his press conference when NewsNation correspondent Evan Lambert was preparing to go live on the air.[2] [2] Video of what happened, provided by the network, showed two officers restraining Lambert while he was lying on his stomach.[0]
Governor DeWine’s press secretary, Dan Tierney, said that DeWine did not see the incident because his view was blocked by a bank of cameras, but he did hear a disagreement toward the back of the gymnasium.[3] NewsNation Washington, D.C. bureau chief Mike Viqueira stated that he was in communication with Lambert, who remained in the Columbiana County Jail on Wednesday night.[4]
Lambert was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing and released later Wednesday.[5] After his release, he told NewsNation in an aired interview, “No journalist expects to be arrested when you’re doing your job, and I think that’s really important that that doesn’t happen in our country.”[6]
The incident has sparked controversy and an investigation into what happened. According to East Palestine Police Chief David Swigart, the officers believed Lambert disobeyed orders to stop talking. “Gymnasiums are echoey and loud and sound kind of carries, so I’m guessing that they just didn’t like the fact that there was sound competing with the governor speaking, even though it was all the way at the other end of the room,” Swigart said.[6]
Governor DeWine has since spoken out, saying that he did not witness the incident, nor did he authorize it.[2] He expressed that reporters have “every right” to cover the news without interruption.[6] NewsNation expressed their support for Lambert, with Viqueira adding that “every effort is being made to assist Evan and secure his release as soon as possible.[7]
0. “NewsNation Reporter Arrested at Ohio Guv's Train Derailment Press Conference” The Daily Beast, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.thedailybeast.com/newsnation-reporter-arrested-at-ohio-governors-train-derailment-press-conference
1. “Moment NewsNation journalist is slammed to the ground and ARRESTED while delivering live broadcast” Daily Mail, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11730285/Moment-NewsNation-journalist-slammed-ground-ARRESTED-delivering-live-broadcast.html
2. “National News Reporter Arrested in East Palestine” Beaver County Radio, 9 Feb. 2023, https://beavercountyradio.com/news/national-news-reporter-arrested-in-east-palestine
3. “NewsNation reporter arrested during Gov. Mike DeWine's press conference in East Palestine” News 5 Cleveland WEWS, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/newsnation-reporter-arrested-during-gov-mike-dewines-press-conference-in-east-palestine
4. “NewsNation reporter arrested at Ohio governor's press conference” Axios, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/02/09/newsnation-reporter-arrested-ohio-governor-press-conference
5. “US Reporter Arrested While Covering Press Conference For Being Too Loud” UrduPoint News, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/us-reporter-arrested-while-covering-press-con-1639841.html
6. “Reporter arrested during news event on Ohio train derailment” Toledo Blade, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.toledoblade.com/local/environment/2023/02/08/reporter-arrested-ohio-train-derailment/stories/20230208129
7. “NewsNation Trying to Get Reporter Evan Lambert Released From Jail” Next TV, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.nexttv.com/news/newsnation-trying-to-get-reporter-evan-lambert-released-from-jail
