Rep. Andy Harris Threatens Reporter with Criminal Charges Over Recording

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., confronted a journalist Tuesday, threatening potential criminal charges if she continued to record him during a press gaggle. The exchange occurred after a debate in Cambridge, Maryland, where Harris was participating with his Democratic opponent, Dan Schwartz.

During the gaggle, captured on video by a Baltimore Banner photojournalist, Harris singled out a reporter, identified as Cat Murphy of Capital News Service, and stated, "You do not have my permission to record. If you record, we will refer you to prosecutors." When Murphy questioned why she was not allowed to record, Harris responded, "Everyone in here is recording... You are not allowed to. We are in a two-party state. You are not allowed to."

Harris, who is seeking his ninth term in the House, repeatedly referenced Maryland's Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act, which makes it a felony to willfully intercept wire, oral, or electronic communications, punishable by imprisonment and/or fines. However, the law primarily applies to private conversations, not public events where participants may not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Murphy, who is credentialed through a U.S. Capitol gallery, informed Harris that the event was a public forum. Another reporter also chimed in, noting that Maryland's two-party consent law typically applies to telephone communications. Despite these explanations, Harris insisted that both audio and video recordings required two-party approval in Maryland and that Murphy needed his approval to record.

When Murphy attempted to redirect the conversation to Harris's comments on U.S. military hostilities with Iran, the congressman grew agitated and called for a law enforcement officer, stating, "Take her camera. You're going to take her camera. She is violating the law."

Harris then pushed his way out of the room, remarking, "She's ruining all your chances to get an answer about anything. See y'all. Thank her. Thank -- thank her profusely!" ABC News reported it had not received a response from Harris when seeking comment Wednesday.