Buford reports: "Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox was arrested Wednesday morning after attempting to film a House Science Committee hearing on hydraulic fracturing."

'I'm within my First Amendment rights, and I'm being taken out,' Fox said as he was led away, 02/01/12. (photo: Office of Rep. Paul Tonko)

'Gasland' Filmmaker Arrested at Fracking Hearing

By Talia Buford, Politico

01 February 12

scar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox was arrested Wednesday morning after attempting to film a House Science Committee hearing on hydraulic fracturing.

Fox was led out in handcuffs by the Capitol police shortly after 10 a.m., before the hearing could be gaveled into order. The "Gasland" director was attempting to film the hearing looking into EPA's investigation of potential water contamination from natural gas drilling in Pavillion, Wyo.

"I'm within my First Amendment rights, and I'm being taken out," Fox shouted as he was led away.

Fox has been charged with unlawful entry, according to Capitol police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider.

Fox is working on a sequel to his Oscar-nominated "Gasland."

An ABC news crew was also turned away from the hearing. The committee chairman has the discretion on whether to allow uncredentialed members of the media to film hearings, according to a democratic staffer.

The committee recessed after Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) called a motion to suspend the committee rules and allow for Fox and the ABC crew to film the hearing.

"... it's clear we have space in this room to film this hearing," Miller said. "If you claim that rule does not allow them to film, or allows you the discretion to turn them away, I move the rules be suspended so the fella who wanted to film for HBO be allowed to film this hearing and that ABC be allowed to film this hearing and all God's children be allowed to film this hearing until the room is too full for us to conduct our business."

Before Miller's motion, subcommittee chairman Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) noted that the hearing is being webcast and that anyone filming the hearing would need the appropriate press credentials.

The hearing resumed nearly 30 minutes later, after Republicans voted to table both Miller's motion to allow the filming and a second motion to recess the hearing.

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+44 # Capn Canard 2012-02-01 17:24

wow... it looks like Big Oil is scared by someone trying to pull back the curtain.

+26 # Barkingcarpet 2012-02-01 21:35

Find and watch his movie, Gasland. Fracking is dirty, toxic, dangerous, and is a wonderful means for making our planet uninhabitable for future life. Our system is corrupt and busted folks, and if you wish to have a livable future, lets get off our butts and change our world. Folks like Josh Fox ARE hero's, really.

+14 # angelfish 2012-02-01 22:31

God forgive me, but I DETEST ReTHUGlicans and long for the day when Sane, Reasonable people are in charge of our, FORMERLY Free and Open, Congress and return access to it to the Public so we can see for ourselves and better understand the machinations of our Congress. Strong-arming observers and arbitrarily throwing them out of the hearing is an abuse of power that should NOT be allowed if the observer is quiet, respectful and causing no disturbance. This USED to be "Land of the Free..."

+12 # Regina 2012-02-01 23:09

It looks like Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) has never read the Constitution. It looks like he has no concept of professional courtesy toward his colleague -- not his enemy -- Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.). It looks like Rep. Harris has the retarded mentality of a schoolyard bully.

+7 # mgorfain 2012-02-02 02:19

Here's a link to the webcast of the sub-committee hearing - sounds like a board meeting of the American Natural Gas Association ... or the RNC:

http://science.edgeboss.net/wmedia/science/sst2012/020112.wvx

And here's the link to the "Press Release" issued by Subcommittee Commissar Harris:

http://science.house.gov/press-release/witnesses-say-epa-ground-water-research-report-requires-further-scrutiny

0 # NOMINAE 2012-02-02 03:09

This is apparently part of the new "transparency" advocated by this Administration taking place in the PEOPLE'S House of Representatives .

+6 # SouthBrun 2012-02-02 05:15

I support Brad Miller for Governor of North Carolina where the RepubLIEcan run legislature is proposing franking and off-shore drilling. STOP IT!

+16 # jcdav 2012-02-02 05:59

WTF? Secret Hearings on matters affecting the public at large? Welcome to Amerika, land of the free and recently oppressed brave. Time is short. We are losing any possibility of getting the corps. to be responsible for their actions..

+10 # Lolanne 2012-02-02 06:47

How interesting that none of the news sources I hurriedly checked that published this story actually named the committee members present. However, the entire committee is named at http://science.house.gov/about/membership. Do I feel a letter-writing campaign coming on? Damn straight! At the very least, people in these guys' own districts ought to let them have an earful. Public pressure is the only thing that has any chance at all of changing the culture in DC.

+7 # ethics monitor 2012-02-02 07:56

Brad Miller, you are my hero. We need more of our reps to stand for what is right, and for "all God's Children" and their rights, as you so aptly put it!

Let's find out about the other committee membersand make them understand that they have created a great publicity coup for Josh Fox and ABC. By the way, what happened there. Last time I checked, ABC had media credentials!

0 # KittatinyHawk 2012-02-02 17:45

Mr Miller should be in Dimmock Pa. Governor Corbett has stopped the Town from getting safe drinking water brought in. He has deemed that the problem was not due to fracking. Now the EPA is there testing.
People like you and I are permitted into Hearings, I hope this person and ABC gets Attorneys and ACLU better get off its butt.
We video hearings, meetings all the time. We have the right to. Republicans are scamming again. Bet you look up their money for their campaigns you will see they get big time gifts from GAS. Out West has lots of proof of the contamination, many had to leave or get paid off to get water. We have known about the West Coast for ten years. It is the East Coast now being raped, water intentionally contaminated for Greed. Pa Governor is a Republican and his buddies are all for this as well, they are the Republicans....just like the Pipeline of Doom.
GOP/TP Stand for Death

0 # futhark 2012-02-02 18:22

The committee should do themselves and the country a favor by viewing GasLand as important testimony on this issue.

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