Blogger braces for subpoena after refusing to give up police source
Feb 18th, 2008 by Rob
Thaddeus Matthews, a blogger from Memphis who runs “the most issue oriented site around,” is facing legal heat this week after refusing to name a police department official accused of leaking information.
Matthews took up the cause of teenager Dexter Cox, who was accused of killing a Memphis police officer Jan. 28, posting updates and supporting documents to his site with each new development. Apparently, the blogger had a source inside the Memphis Police department, whom was always identified in Matthews’ posts (in red, all-caps) as “LEAKER.”
This week Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons launched an intense investigation into the leak, and there are murmurs that Matthews may be subpoenaed to reveal his source. The Tennessee shield law, however, covers bloggers as it would any other type of reporter, so Matthews may not have much to worry about. Says Matthews on his site:
“Bill Gibbons has no plans of proceeding with his so called investigations because he knows that he does not have a legal leg to stand on. He knows that I am protected by the Tennessee Shield Law and that he’s just blowing smoke when he says that he has an investigation go on. This is a case where he knows that if he has plans for running for Governor of this state he better leave this one alone. If Billy decides to push the envelope than myself and the ACLU stand ready to give him the ride of his life. I have no intent of ever revealing sources and will continue to use them to reveal the corruption in the Memphis Police Department and The District Attorney’s office, And there’s not a damn thing they can do about it.”
