“To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a penalty for assault against journalists, and for other purposes.”
This bill establishes new criminal offenses for intentional acts (or attempts to commit acts) that cause bodily injury to a journalist.
This section adds a new section 120 to chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, establishing criminal penalties for intentionally assaulting journalists in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce. It defines relevant terms—including "journalist" as an employee, independent contractor, or agent of a news-disseminating entity (e.g., newspapers, websites, broadcasters, multichannel video programming distributors) who engages in newsgathering (i.e., gathering, preparing, recording, reporting, or publishing on matters of public interest)—and cross-references the definitions of "bodily injury" and "serious bodily injury" in 18 U.S.C. §1365(h). Prohibited acts include (1) causing bodily injury to a known journalist while newsgathering or to intimidate or impede such activity, punishable by fine or imprisonment for not more than three years (or both); or (2) causing serious bodily injury, punishable by fine or imprisonment for not more than six years (or both). The section also amends the table of sections for chapter 7.