NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal mischief after giving a live report during a press conference held by Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) regarding a train derailment that caused hundreds of East Liverpool, Ohio residents to evacuate due to toxic chemicals released from the crash. 700 WLW host Bill Cunningham believes Lambert is lucky the events transpired on video.
“He was doing his damn job, he was where he had a right to be, he was invited to be there by the Governor’s office, Governor DeWine was 50 yards away…one or two officers took it upon themselves to arrest him,” Cunningham told NewsNation’s Ashleigh Banfield.
“Once they chicken winged him and took him down, you’ve got to do something. You can’t do that and say ‘Ok, you’re free to go’. I practiced law for 30 years in Ohio. What happens in small-town Ohio, small counties, is significantly different than what happens in Chicago, Philadelphia, (or) New York City. Because these prosecutors and these sheriffs run the place, and what they say goes. If NewsNation wasn’t on this thing, Evan would still be locked up and I don’t easily say the charges are going to be dismissed.”
Cunningham continued by calling the situation “outrageous” and a “black eye” for the Columbiana County Sheriff’s department.
“I’m so proud of NewsNation doing what they’re doing tonight,” concluded Cunningham, saying that there is a lack of accountability with small-town and rural Ohio sheriff’s departments.
