EDITOR'S NOTE: Corrected version, 11/19/04, below
New York, November 18, 2004—A federal court today convicted Jim
Taricani, a reporter at WJAR-TV, an NBC Universal–owned station
in Providence, Rhode Island, of criminal contempt for refusing to reveal
a confidential source.
Sentencing is set for December 9, and Taricani faces up to six months
behind bars, according to the Web site of WJAR-TV.
"This conviction makes it more likely that Taricani will be sentenced
to jail, an action that would set a terrible example for the world," said
CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper.
In March, U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres held Taricani in
contempt after he refused to reveal who leaked to him an FBI surveillance
tape during an investigation into corruption involving Vincent "Buddy"
Cianci Jr, then mayor of Providence. WJAR-TV broadcast the tape during
the corruption trial, and two defendants, ex-Mayor Cianci and one of his
former aides, Frank E. Corrente, were later convicted of taking bribes.
Judge Torres imposed a $1,000-a-day fine against Taricani, although the
fines were stayed pending an appeal, which the journalist lost. Since
August 12, he has been paying the fine, which now totals $85,000. NBC
Universal has reimbursed the payments, according to a statement from the
company.
Taricani, 55, is the recipient of a heart transplant. Judge Torres has
previously said in court that he has been reluctant to jail the journalist
because of his heart condition.
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