S. 1601

119 S1601 IS: Journalist Protection Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-05-05
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 1601  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   May 5, 2025   Mr. Blumenthal  (for himself and  Ms. Hirono ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a penalty for assault
 against journalists, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Journalist Protection Act  .
2.
Assault against journalists
(a)
In general
 Chapter 7  of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
120.
Assault against journalists
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Bodily injury; serious bodily injury
The terms  bodily injury  and  serious bodily injury  have the meanings given those terms in section 1365(h).
(2)
Journalist
The term  journalist  means an individual who—
(A)
is an employee, independent contractor, or agent of an entity or service that disseminates news or information—
(i)
by means of a newspaper, nonfiction book, wire service, news agency, news website, mobile application or other news or information service (whether distributed digitally or otherwise), news program, magazine, or other periodical (whether in print, electronic, or other format); or
(ii)
through a television broadcast, radio broadcast, multichannel video programming distributor (as defined in section 602 of the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 522 )), or motion picture for public showing; and
(B)
engages in newsgathering with the primary intent to investigate an event or procure material in order to disseminate to the public news or information concerning a local, national, or international event or other matter of public interest.
(3)
Newsgathering
The term  newsgathering  means engaging in regular gathering, preparation, collection, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing concerning a local, national, or international event or other matter of public interest.
(b)
Prohibited conduct
Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, intentionally commits, or attempts to commit—
(1)
an act described in subsection (c) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both; or
(2)
an act described in subsection (d) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 6 years, or both.
(c)
Bodily injury to a journalist
An act described in this subsection is an act—
(1)
that causes bodily injury to an individual who is a journalist;
(2)
committed with knowledge or reason to know the individual is a journalist; and
(3)
committed—
(A)
while the journalist is taking part in newsgathering; or
(B)
with the intention of intimidating or impeding newsgathering by the journalist.
(d)
Serious bodily injury to a journalist
An act described in this subsection is an act—
(1)
that causes serious bodily injury to an individual who is a journalist;
(2)
committed with knowledge or reason to know the individual is a journalist; and
(3)
committed—
(A)
while the journalist is taking part in newsgathering; or
(B)
with the intention of intimidating or impeding newsgathering by the journalist.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections for  chapter 7  of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
120.
  Assault against journalists.
  .