NewsNation reporter Evan Lambert was arrested while covering a story on a train derailment near East Palestine, Ohio Wednesday.
Lambert was reporting from inside a room where a press briefing from Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) on the matter was about to transpire. The reporter was reportedly instructed to end his report so the conference could commence, but apparently did not end in a fast enough manner, and was removed and arrested by the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office.
During Banfield, Lambert was released and joined host Ashleigh Banfield to discuss what led to his removal and arrest.
“I am doing fine right now. It’s just been an extremely long day,” said a dejected Lambert. “I have to have to be kind of careful about what I say, but as you can see, I am out. Most things are on video of the situation so it’s pretty clear to see what happened. I’ll just say this: I’m just trying to do my job, as I am right now. That’s what it’s all about: protecting the first amendment, and democracy, and get information out. We were talking about this major accident that impacted hundreds, thousands of people in this town and that’s what we were trying to do and what I’ll continue to try to do.”
The NewsNation reporter was allegedly charged with Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief. DeWine has apologized for the incident, saying “I’m certainly very, very sorry that happened. I don’t have all the facts, but he or she or whoever was arrested had every right to be there.”
