Washington, D.C., October 31, 2023—Authorities in Escambia County, Alabama, should immediately drop all charges against Atmore News publisher Sherry Digmon and reporter Don Fletcher and thoroughly investigate the motives behind their arrests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Police arrested Digmon and Fletcher on October 27 on charges of disclosing leaked information, according to...
  • NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world
    126·
    1 year ago

    Arrested for “disclosing information about the misuse of covid relief funds with the school board”… ohhh, probably important to mention the arresting officer was on the school board that was being investigated.

    Edit: Misread the article. The last part isn’t true.

    • Endorkend@kbin.social
      55·
      1 year ago

      Am I the only one who’s surprised how out and in the open corruption has become in states like Alabama?

      • Telorand@reddthat.com
        231·
        1 year ago

        No, you’re not. It’s 2023. We should have more progress than we do. It’s like we stalled in 2010 and never really recovered.

        On the other hand, Republicans love a strong police state, especially one they control.

    • circuscritic
      4·
      1 year ago

      I didn’t see that mentioned in any of the three articles linked. Did I miss it? If not, can you please provide a source?

      I did see that the charging DA spoke at the school board meeting in defense of the Superintendent who’s contract was not being renewed. So that sounds like a conflict of interest…

      I also like how they’re looking for checks that literally say “COVID Bonus”. If those actually exist, holy shit, that would be dumb dumb dumb.

    • chuckleslord@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 year ago

      I read in the article that one of the two arrested, the publisher, is a member of the school board, is that what you read?