Sort of Serious Stuff

MSNBC just reported that there's a guy proudly displaying a sidearm mingling among the crowd gathering at the scene of an Obama town hall health care meeting scheduled later today in New Hampshire. Chances of him being their to greet POTUS: 0%.

A TWT reporter who had been covering the disputed election has been arrested in Iran, according to an Iranian news agency and via TWT.

TWT executive editor John Solomon said the newspaper believes he is Greek-born freelance journalist Iason Athanasiadis, who disappeared a few days ago.

Solomon's statement:

We are aware of the report today by an Iranian news agency that one of our freelance reporters, Iason, has been arrested by Iranian authorities. We have been trying diligently to ascertain Iason's whereabouts. We understand that the Greek foreign ministry and the Greek ambassador in Tehran are diligently working to secure his swift release. We hope the situation will be resolved very soon.

So do we.

Reporters Without Borders will hold a vigil for the release of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee tomorrow from 6-8 p.m. in Freedom Plaza at 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

Ling and Lee stand trial at about the same time tomorrow in North Korea, accused of crossing into the country illegally from China and committing "hostile acts."

Similar vigils will be held in New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Birmingham and Chicago.

The Smoking Gun reports that David Malakoff (46), former science editor and an on-air correspondent for NPR, has been named in a felony criminal information for posession of child pornography.

Malakoff resigned from his job last June, according to NPR spokesperson Anna Christopher. Prior to his gig at NPR, Malakoff reported at Science magazine, freelance journalist, nonprofit fundraiser, and director of an ecological research organization.

Check out TSG for more details about Malakoff's alleged criminal activity.

This is the second member of the DC media to be named in child porn posession charges this month. The first was Fox Newser Aaron Bruns.

UPDATE: Malakoff's Facebook status update as of 6:40pm today: "David Malakoff is thankful for all the compassionate and accepting friends in his life."

The affidavit from Fox News producer Aaron Bruns' child pornography case after the jump.

WARNING: The document contains graphic detail about the media and nature of the content confiscated from Bruns' DC apartment.

continued...

Looks like this is not Bruns' first offense. FishbowlDC has learned that Bruns voluntarily left college for a similar charge in 1999 and after pleading guilty, served a mere three years of probation for the offense. Check out The Michigan Daily article that chronicles Bruns' first child pornography arrest.

Bruns leaves 'U' in criminal case

By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud

Daily Staff Reporter

Less than two weeks after Department of Public Safety detectives had arrested him on charges of distributing child pornography, LSA first-year student Aaron Bruns voluntarily dropped out of the University while his case was pending, his lawyer told District Court Judge John Collins on Wednesday.

As a condition of his freedom - Bruns is out on a personal recognizance bond - Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor John Reiser asked that Bruns not use a computer for anything other than school work, said County Recorder Jackie Wallen.

Bruns' attorney Douglas Mullkoff indicated that he would not be using a computer since he had left the University.

Bruns' preliminary hearing was adjourned until May 12 at the request of his lawyer. Bruns was not present in court yesterday, having returned home to Lima, Ohio.

DPS detectives seized Bruns' computer on March 15 from his South Quad room. Thousands of pornographic images were stored on his computer, many of them of children in explicit sexual situations, said DPS Lt. Wesley Skowron.

Bruns was arrested on March 18 by DPS Sgt. Kevin McNulty and released after arraignment.

Full story available here.

Our pals at TVNewser report that Aaron Bruns, a producer in the Fox News Channel Washington, D.C. bureau, has been arrested and charged with one count of possession of child pornography. A Fox News spokesperson confirms, telling TVNewser, "We are aware of the arrest and he is currently suspended without pay."

Bruns is in federal court in Washington, D.C. this afternoon appearing on the felony charge.

Bruns has been with FNC for more than six years. He was an embed producer with the Hillary Clinton campaign last year.

Clinton Connection Update: Bruns' dance with Hillary Clinton - from his Fox News Blog

"That's right: I danced with Hillary Clinton." See the post and the video after the jump.

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The Washington Times gets personal with C-SPAN Anchor and Political Editor Steve Scully in today's article by Stephanie Green. Scully says faith drove him and wife, Kate to welcome another child into their home.

Congratulations to the Scullys and welcome to the Fishbowl little Natalie.

Check it out here.

These pics were passed along to FishbowlDC, from before last night's debate:

From the Baltimore Sun:

Talking Head Division
Inside the Beltway Arena, Washington, D.C.

Robert Novak (1st seed) vs. Newt Gingrich (16th seed) - He may have helped to "out" CIA operative Valerie Plame, but he's not flaming out. Top-seeded Bobbie "The Bulldog" Novak, despite some troubles this season, is supremely confident, as usual, as he goes up against "Nothing But" Newt Gingrich, who recently admitted that he was having an extramarital affair even as he pursued Bill Clinton on "Monicagate." Bobbie reportedly has some secrets up his sleeve that, come tourney time, he just might disclose.

James Carville (2nd seed) vs.Al Sharpton (15th seed) - The decibel level is expected to hit the roof during this one, and that's not even counting the fans.

Ann Coulter (6th seed) vs. Tony Snow (11th seed) - The right-wing pundit with locks of gold, a heart of steel and an acid tongue would really rather face a Democrat in her first-round match. Still, she's determined to chew up anyone who gets in her way, including Tony, the White House spokesman with a record of being cool under pressure.

Tucker Carlson (8th seed) vs. Chris Matthews (9th seed) - Fleet of mouth, but not of foot, the bow-tied preppie who co-hosted CNN's Crossfire may be too klutzy (based on his first-round elimination in last season's Dancing with the Stars) to move on to the second round. Chris, the mouthy host of MSNBC's Hardball, will use his usual full-court press in a game that is sure to be filled with interruptions.

It's a pretty good idea.