In Re Andrew Shain Sid Gaulden Cindi Ross Scoppe Schuyler Kropf, United States of America v. Jefferson Marion Long, Jr., A/K/A "Bud" Long

OPINION

NIEMEYER, Circuit Judge:

Four members of the press in South Carolina,1 who have covered the highly publicized investigation and prosecution of certain members of the South Carolina legislature for accepting bribes to influence their vote on a pari-mutuel betting bill, assert a qualified privilege, grounded on the First Amendment, against being compelled to testify in the criminal trial of one of the legislators about matters learned by the reporters during newsgathering. When the reporters refused to comply with subpoenas to testify, the district judge found them in contempt, leading to…