Someone must answer for W.Va. reporter’s arrest
Regarding the May 16 editorial “Reporters Ask Questions: An Outrageous Arrest by W.Va. Capitol Police”: Just when you think you’ve seen it all, someone gets creative. The West Virginia Capitol Police have done just that.Dan Heyman, a reporter for Public News Service, was arrested and held in jail for eight hours and summarily charged with a misdemeanor count of “willful disruption of governmental processes” while attempting to ask questions of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price. The details of his miscreant activity: He caused a disturbance by yelling questions and trying to breach security, according to the criminalcomplaint.
There is so much to be explained here. How is yelling questions disturbing? Did he yell too loudly? Did someone measure the decibel level of his yelling? Or did he ask too many questions that went unanswered? Do the West Virginia Capitol Police have a specified number of questions that you may ask before you are attempting to breach security or a decibel level that you cannot exceed before you breach security? And these acts are a “willful disruption of governmental processes”?
In the cold gray light of day, does this make sense to anyone? And one more thing: Sen. Joe Manchin, where are you? PAUL KATUS
McCandless in the election! But to wait months — after praising theman — to fire him when he is leading an investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia’s hacking of the Democrats smacks of insincerity in the least.
At best, it can be attributed to stupidity and a complete lack of understanding of ethics and the law. At worst, it might be obstruction of justice. Look, Hillary Clinton lost the election; Mr. Rieber needs to get over that! Who cares about her anyhow?
What is important is to find out if we, the people of this country, have been snookered, hoodwinked, taken advantage of. The investigation needs to continue, honestly and truthfully.
Finally, Mr. Rieber states that “if Maxine Waters and Elizabeth Warren are the face of the Democratic Party of the future, then you folks are in trouble.” What he needs to understand is that there are no “you folks.” It is “us” and us alone! There is no “they” and “them,” only We need, especially now, to understand that and to move on the best we can, whether we believe in Mr. Trump or not and whether we trust Mr. Trump or not.
He will someday be gone. will not! We and coming generations will be living with the results, good or bad, of this election in the future. need to think long and hard and force our elected representatives to do what is right, regardless of where that leads. TOM KERIN
Bethel Park Rieber neglected to mention that little fact. Why aren’t the Republicans screaming bloody murder?
Then on a different note, Mr. Rieber said the Democrats are in trouble by having the face of the Democratic Party be two strong women. May I unconfuse Mr. Rieber by stating that at least we have two faces represented by two people. The Republican Party has Donald Trump as its twofaces, but in one person. JOE BRANCATO
Whitehall
A quick switch: Neil Sedaka out, Broadway hits in! A day before Mr. Sedaka was to present his Pittsburgh Symphony Pops concert at Heinz Hall, the news arrived that due to an accident, he had to cancel his show (“Sedaka’s Concerts Postponed,” May 12). The Pops office worked diligently to find a replacement. Kudos to the staff for finding a replacement quickly.
Two stars from Broadway, Debbie Gravitte and Doug LaBrecque, presented a variety of songs from Broadway shows that were most enjoyable. It was a quick switch but also a great switch! NITA POTOCAR Bethel Park