She Was Jailed for Basic Journalism. A Federal Court Isn't Sure if That's Unconstitutional."...That journalist is
Priscilla Villarreal, whose presence in Laredo, Texas, is associated with
her profanity-laced commentary on law enforcement and who police
jailed for the crime of asking the government questions, getting answers, and publishing those responses.
That would appear to be a fairly cut-and-dry infringement on her First Amendment rights.
Yet, it's a question that has stumped the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in a case that could have
far-reaching implications for anyone engaged in journalism, regardless of their political bent.
In 2017, Villarreal found herself in a jail cell after publishing two stories on her popular Facebook page,
Lagordiloca, which as of this writing has attracted 202,000 followers.
- The first story pertained to a Border Patrol agent who committed suicide;
- the second revealed the identity of a family involved in a deadly vehicle accident.
The stories were standard.
- But Villarreal had already drawn the ire of the local police department with her reporting, which has included, among other things, a livestream of an officer choking someone at a traffic stop and heavy criticism levied at a local prosecutor...
