Contempt Filings Dropped Against Reporters Covering Hastert

In court documents posted Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo in Chicago accepted apologies from attorneys representing Brian Ross of ABC News and Gabe Gutierrez of NBC Nightly News

Two national television reporters cited for violating media security rules at former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's arraignment last month won't face sanctions after their attorneys apologized to a judge.

In court documents posted online Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ruben Castillo in Chicago accepted apologies from attorneys representing Brian Ross of ABC News and Gabe Gutierrez of NBC Nightly News during a closed-door meeting last week. The judge dismissed contempt filings.

Ross was cited after he allegedly tried to interview Hastert at a metal detector in the federal courthouse lobby and again near elevators. Gutierrez was cited after allegedly running through a closed security checkpoint to try to interview the former speaker.

According to court documents, the attorneys were shown video clips of the reporters violating the rules.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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